Report by SJG

FRIENDLY

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs BLACKBURN ROVERS

27^th July 2024 

NEW BOYS IMPRESS AS AASGAARD NETS AGAIN.

The week leading up to this clash had been filled with transfers and transfer speculation. The news broke that Sean Clare had been sold to Leyton Orient for an undisclosed fee, but only a day later Toby Sibbick, a right sided centre half, was signed from Hearts. More changes followed as Latics snapped up Joe Hugill and Silko Thomas on loan from premiership clubs to reinforce their attacking options. However, the biggest talking point was the future of Charlie Hughes with speculation that big money bids had been received, the fact that the youngsters name was not on the team-sheet for the friendly against a strong Blackburn side only added to the rumours.

The match started with Wigan looking lively and the combinations down the right flank with Rankine, Adeeko and Stones linking well was causing Blackburn problems. On 12 minutes the link up nearly bore fruit only for Pears to produce a fine block with his legs to deny Chris Sze the opening goal.

The game saw both sides pressing high and in the warm sun it was proving a good work out, Thelo Aasgaard drifted inside from his left-wing position and his lobbed effort following good work from Stones beat the keeper but bounced clear off the crossbar. Then at the other end McHugh was dispossessed and Latics were fortunate that the resulting snap shot from Tronstad deflected onto the bar after Tickle somehow got a touch on the effort.

Half time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Blackburn Rovers.

A host of changes at half-time for Latics saw Hugill, Thomas and Sibbick make their debuts as the game became mired in midfield with neither side able to gain any advantage. Rovers looked dangerous on their right flank as McHugh (who was filling in at left back) looking uncomfortable at times, and Latics looked lively down their right flank as Thomas delighted the fans with his direct running.

Hugill was showing good athleticism in attack, whilst Sibbick, along with the impressive Carragher looked solid in defence. Latics looked the most threatening with a number of crosses forcing the Rovers defenders into action. Scott Smith looked to have given Wigan the lead when a delicious curled ball by Thomas was met by the head of the midfield man but his header flashed past the post. Then a moment of hesitation in defence was to prove costly as VALE latched onto a through ball by Costello and quickly exploited the space left by McHugh before firing across the face of goal past Tickle to give the visitors the lead.

Wigan looked to respond and on 79 minutes they grabbed a deserved leveller. Aasgaard collected the ball in midfield and played a ball in behind that Hugill chased down before laying it back to Thomas. The wing man crossed into the box and it was AASGAARD who arrived to power a header at goal, Pears produced a reflex save but when the rebound fell back to the Wigan man he fired home with ease.

With ten minutes left it was Wigan who were finishing the game on the front foot with both wide causing issues for the Championship side but the clock was against the home side and when Thomas limped off with a knock following another exciting surge into the box the referee decided to call time on proceedings.

 Full time; Wigan Athletic 1-1 Blackburn Rovers

Scorers; Aasgaard (79); Vale (64);

Attendance; 4,094

Teams; WIGAN— (4-2-3-1) Tickle; Ramsay, Kerr, Aimson, McHugh; Adeeko, Payne; Rankine, Sze, Aasgaard; Stones Subs; Reilly (for Ramsay), Carragher (for Kerr), Sibbick (for Aimson), S Smith (for Adeeko), M Smith (for Payne), Thomas (for Sze), Hugill (for Stones), Igiehon (for Thomas);

BLACKBURN—Pears; Brittain, Carter, Pickering, Hyam, Tronstad, Rankin-Costello, Travis, Dolan, Vale, Bloxham; Subs; Biniek (for Dolan), Doherty (for Bloxham), Saadi (for Vale);

Referee; Mr. Darren Bond (Lancashire).