Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs MANSFIELD TOWN

22^nd October 2024

UNLUCKY LATICS SUCCUMB TO CLINICAL STAGS AS PRESSURE MOUNTS.

Wigan Athletic were on the end of a narrow 2-1 home defeat to high-flying Mansfield Town as the pressure mounts on manager Maloney to find a winning formula.

The visitors went ahead just before the half hour mark after Lee Evans curled a wonderful effort past Sam Tickle from distance. Latics were back on level terms six minutes into the second half as Thelo Aasgaard rifled in an equaliser.

Keanu Baccus then put Mansfield Town back in front with a precise first-time finish inside the area with just their second attempt on target and despite Latics pushing for a leveller, the visitors emerged victorious. 

Both teams made six changes heading into this one with Steven Sessegnon returning from injury alongside a welcome return for Joe Hugill. Tyrese Francois was in for his Latics league home debut, whilst Baba Adeeko, Thelo Aasgaard and Dion Rankine also came into the starting line-up.

Latics first big chance of the game came on 17 minutes as Thelo Aasgaard’s sublime through ball sent Dion Rankine through on goal, but he was denied by a superb save from Christy Pym who blocked the effort with his feet.

The visitors, with their first real attempt at goal, went ahead with a sublime effort from distance. EVANS was presented with the ball high up the field after a loose Adeeko pass and he curled a strike from 25 yards into the far corner.

Latics looked for a leveller, but Thelo Aasgaard just nodded his header over the crossbar from a Silko Thomas left-sided cross.

Latics then had a clear claim for a penalty on the stroke of half time as Joe Hugill went down in the box with his shirt being pulled as he went to lash home a rebound after the keeper spilled an Aasgaard shot from a free kick. The referee waved play-on but the correct decision, as replays confirmed, was surely a penalty and a red card.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-1 Mansfield Town.

Maloney made four changes at the break. Calvin Ramsay, Matt Smith, Michael Olakigbe and Dale Taylor all came on in place of James Carragher, Baba Adeeko, Silko Thomas and Hugill.

Latics were straight on the front foot as two of those changes Olakigbe and Taylor combined, before the latter just dragged his shot wide.

Latics' pressure at the start of the second half was rewarded as Francois pulled the ball back for AASGAARD, who fired an emphatic strike into the roof of the net.

Mansfield re-took the lead 10 minutes later as Aaron Lewis' deep free-kick was headed down by Frazer Blake-Tracy towards BACCUS who hit a first-time finish, into the bottom corner.

Latics looked to respond as Matt Smith fired just wide from the edge of the box. Aasgaard then had a big chance after ping-ball in the box, but his shot unfortunately hit a Latics player when it looked destined for the back of the net.

Maloney’s men continued to push for an equaliser as substitute Jonny Smith forced a save from Christy Pym from distance, but Mansfield held on for the three points.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 1-2 Mansfield Town.

Scorers; Aasgaard (52); Evans (29), Baccus (62);

Attendance; 9,460

Teams; WIGAN— (4-1-4-1) Tickle; Carragher, Kerr, Aimson, Sessegnon; Adeeko; Francois, Rankine, Aasgaard, Thomas; Hugill

Subs: Ramsay (for Carragher), M. Smith (for Adeeko), Olakigbe (for Thomas), Watson, Sibbick, J. Smith (for Sessegnon), Taylor (for Hugill);

MANSFIELD --- (3-4-1-2) Pym; Bowery, Oshilaja, Cargill; Akins, Baccus, Reed, Blake-Tracy; Lewis; Evans, Waine;

Subs: McLaughlin (for Blake-Tracy), Hewitt (for Akins), Maris (for Waine), Flinders, Flint (for Reed), Gregory (for Evans), Boateng

Referee; Mr. Daniel Middleton (Derbyshire)