Report by SJG

EFL TROPHY

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs STOCKPORT COUNTY

6^th December 2023

LATICS PROGRESS TO NEXT ROUND

Latics had earned themselves a home tie in the newly named Bristol Street Motors Trophy, courtesy of a penalty shoot-out victory at Tranmere in the final group stage match. The draw had paired them up with the current leaders in League Two and the visitors arrived at the DW Stadium in fine form and with confidence running high. Both sides made a number of changes to their starting line-ups. Some forced by injury, while others were by choice as some squad members were rotated to allow some recovery time after the recent busy schedule of games.

Wigan began the game on the front foot and were closing down at every opportunity as Stockport struggled to settle into the tie. The speed of the build-up play was causing problems for the County defence, and on five minutes clever movement saw Chris Sze pick up the ball in a pocket of space, his slide rule pass looked to have played Jonny Smith in on goal, but the ball lacked pace and was intercepted by the defence. Chris Sze again found space between the lines and his dart to the bye line allowed him to pull a cross back into the penalty box where Jonny SMITH got in front of a static defender and scuffed an accurate shot that found the bottom corner to give Latics a deserved lead. The goal was Smith’s first for Wigan and was a welcome reward for a player who has had only limited opportunities on the park since his signing in the close season from Burton.

Wigan continued to press forwards and a quickly taken free kick was worked out to Jones on the left flank. Jones curled in a perfectly struck cross with his right foot and Liam MORRISON applied a glancing header from close range for the second goal. Morrison was returning to the line-up after recovering from an injury that he suffered whilst on international duty with the Scottish U21 side, and was his first strike as a professional.

Latics were dominant and Jones was carrying a constant threat as the County defence found his pace hard to handle. Jones nearly added a third as he checked inside and curled an effort just beyond the upright with the keeper well beaten.

Stockport had failed to really work Amos in the Latics goal and it took until the 44^th minute before the Wigan shot stopper had any meaningful work to complete.  A cross from the right found former Latics favourite Powell about ten yards out but his header lacked power and Amos was able to collect comfortably.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 2-0 Stockport County.

The second period began with County putting Wigan under more pressure as they sought a way back into the game.  The workmanlike midfield pairing of Scott Smith and Liam Shaw were industrious in breaking up any Stockport threat and Wigan began to sit back on their lead.  Magennis in attack was becoming more and more isolated and forays into the County half were becoming less and less frequent.  Stockport were definitely adopting a more physical approach and Chris Sze certainly came in for a lot more robust attention from his markers. Powell fired in a shot as County continued to press but the effort took a deflection and was easily collected by Amos.

Stockport’s best opportunities arrived courtesy of slack Wigan passing in their own defensive third and Shaw was dispossessed following an ill-conceived pass from Amos. The keeper, however, reacted quickly and closed down the Stockport midfielder Cotterill as he prepared to shoot and the effort was well smothered.  With just over an hour gone both sides brought on a number of substitutes. Powell left the stage to warm applause on his return to the DW, and Morrison made way for Charlie Hughes, having completed a very pleasing hour on his return from injury.

On 66 minutes County produced their most incisive moments in the match as they worked the ball well down their left flank and a whipped cross found the head of Kyle Wooton but the substitutes header, from close range, flew wide of the near post.

Adeeko and Humphrys replaced Shaw and Jonny Smith for the final twenty minutes as Wigan tried to re-establish some control in the midfield and some enhanced threat in attack. However, it was the visitors who had the next significant chance when Bailey fired in an effort that Amos did well to push round the post.

Chris Sze, who had been quiet in the second period, suddenly came to life and he successfully dispossessed a defender but in rounding the keeper he was forced wide and his shot from a tight angle was saved.

On the 80-minute mark Callum Lang and youngster Abdi Sharif came on to replace Jordan Jones and Magennis.

The fresh legs appeared to have the desired effect as Latics suddenly looked far more potent in attack with Lang’s industry in the centre proving a real issue for the tiring Stockport midfield.

On 87 minutes Lang was busy in defence as he bravely blocked a goal-bound effort from Isaac Olaofe. However, one minute later Lang was busy at the other end of the pitch as he deftly beat his man before threading a pass through for Sze to burst in on goal. The young striker took the chance to strike for goal early but Smith in the County net got down well to save. Latics comfortably saw out the remaining minutes to secure their place in the last sixteen.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 2-0 Stockport County.

Scorers; J. Smith (17), Morrison (23);

Attendance; 3,051

Team; WIGAN---(4-2-3-1); Amos; McHugh, Morrison, Watts, Rekik; S. Smith, Shaw; J. Smith, Jones, Sze; Magennis; Subs; Hughes, Adeeko, Humphrys, Lang, Sharif;

STOCKPORT COUNTY---(4-3-3); Smith; Knoyle, Wright, Byrne, Pye; Mee, Cotterill, Johnson; Richardson, Madden, Powell; Subs; Wooton, Bailey, Sarcevic, Olaofe, Touray;

Referee; Mr Sunny Singh Gill (London)