Report by SJG

FRIENDLY

TRANMERE ROVERS vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

2^nd August 2024 

LATICS PAY THE PENALTY TWICE.

Two soft penalty awards in favour of the hosts proved to be Wigans undoing on this Friday night on the Wirral.

Wigan made three changes to the XI that started against Blackburn with Hugill coming in for his first start along with Matt Snith and Jonny Smith who had both recovered from slight knocks.

Tranmere began brightly and Omari Patrick found space down the left before whipping in a dangerous ball that Aimson did well to defend.

Then at the other end Adeeko fed in Jonny Smith but his well struck shot was palmed away by Luke McGee in the Rovers goal.

Patrick was proving a handful in attack and Jason Kerr did well to deny the striker with an excellent block. Then on 23 minutes the referee controversially awarded a penalty for what was deemed to be holding in the box by Harry McHugh. NORRIS stepped up and sent Tickle the wrong way with a powerful drive.

Wigan were enjoying some good possession and as the pressure increased it was no surprise when Matt Smith threaded a perfect pass to the on-rushing HUGILL who lifted his shot over the advancing keeper to level the scores.

Wigan continued to control most of the play but the Tranmere side held firm and there was no addition to the score before the break.

Half time; Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Wigan Athletic.

The second half saw Tranmere being more aggressive in the tackle and their more robust style seemed to upset the Latics passing rhythm.

The muscular number nine Josh Davison was causing problems for the Wigan defence and early in the second period he fired in a low drive that flew just past the post. Then on the hour mark he let fly another effort from 20 yards that Tickle was at full stretch to palm around the post. Latics had Tickle to thank again on 68 minutes when he produced a fine point blank save that even the Rovers players applauded.  The let-off was only temporary at the resulting corner the referee again pointed to the spot with Hugill being deemed guilty of a shirt pull on Norman.  WALKER stepped up and took the penalty kick, but Tickle guessed right and palmed the shot against the post, the ball rebounded back to the Tranmere man and he lashed home the rebound from close-in.

On 80 minutes Harry McHugh nearly scored a spectacular equaliser with a curled effort from 25 yards but the shot struck both post and bar before looping to safety.

Latics continued to push and Rankine forced a save from McGee and Ramsay who was first to the rebound, failed to hit the target.

Then in the closing minutes youngster Leo Graham headed narrowly wide from a deep Ramsay cross after he ghosted into space in the penalty box.

Full time; Tranmere Rovers 2-1 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Hugill (36); Norris (23, pen), Walker (70);

Attendance; 1,666

Teams; WIGAN— (4-2-3-1) Tickle; Ramsay, Kerr, Aimson, McHugh; Adeeko, M. Smith; J Smith, Aasgaard, Rankine; Hugill; Subs; Graham (for J. Smith);

TRANMERE ROVERS— (4-4-2) McGee; O Connor, Walker, Davies, Wood; Norman, Hendry, Jennings, Patrick; Norris, Davison; Subs; Bradshaw (for Wood), Williams (for Jennings), Solomon (for Patrick), Saunders (for Norris), Dennis (for Davison);

Referee; Mr Jarred Gillett (Australia)