Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs SHREWSBURY TOWN

21^st December 2024

SHREWS FIGHTBACK ROCKS THE LATICS AS POINTS DROPPED

Shaun Maloney, for his 100^th game in charge, made one change to his Derby Day starting XI, with Michael Olakigbe replacing Silko Thomas, who struggled with illness in midweek.

Olakigbe started brightly down the left wing and jinked his way past the full back before cutting inside and shooting at goal, but his effort was deflected wide.

The resulting corner saw Jonny Smith swing the ball deep to Aasgaard and he volleyed first time expertly into the corner. TAYLOR was adjudged to have got the final touch as the ball flew through a body of players, but either way, Latics led early.

Olakigbe and Aasgaard linked up nicely to create an opening for Steven Sessegnon. He looked to curl his effort into the bottom corner, but it went wide of the target.

Latics dominated the ball and controlled most of the first half which meant we led at the break.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Shrewsbury Town.

Tickle beat away Jordan Shipley’s early second half curling free kick in what was his first real save of the afternoon. Then, at the right end, Baba Adeeko nearly bagged his first professional goal. The midfielder was played clean through by Taylor, but Jamal Blackman denied him with a sprawling save at his feet before Jonny Smith skied the rebound.

If there was any doubt about the scorer of the first Latics goal, there was certainly no doubt about the second as Matt Smith did brilliantly to win the ball off the Shrewsbury defence, slid in TAYLOR who finished perfectly into the corner.

The visitors got a foothold back in the game in fortunate fashion as a low driven cross from the right by Bloxham was diverted into his own net by AIMSON. That was not how the centre half had hoped to mark his 300^th career start and it proved to be the turning point.

The visitors were claiming for a penalty inside the final 10 minutes as Adeeko challenged Josh Feeney, who then headed over from a free-kick a few minutes later as Latics looked increasingly frantic in their efforts to hang on to the three points.

Shrewsbury continued to push for a leveller as Latics lost their composure on the ball and the visitors got their reward three minutes from time as George LLOYD poked home the equaliser after a rare mistake from Sam Tickle, who failed to hold another low driven cross.

Latics pushed for a late winner, as substitute Scott Smith went down in the box late on to no avail and the points were shared in the end.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 2-2 Shrewsbury Town.

Scorers; Taylor (9), (52); Aimson (OG, 67), Lloyd (87);

Attendance; 8,752

Teams; WIGAN— (4-2-3-1) Tickle; Sibbick, Kerr, Aimson, Sessegnon; Adeeko, M. Smith; J. Smith, Aasgaard, Olakigbe; Taylor; Subs: --- Watson, Weir, Hugill (for Taylor), Thomas (for J. Smith), McManaman, S. Smith (for M. Smith), Carragher (for Sessegnon);

SHREWSBURY TOWN--- (4-3-1-2) Blackman; Hoole, J. Feeney, M. Feeney, Benning; Gilliead, Ojo, Shipley; O’Reilly; Marquis, Sagoe Jr; Subs: --- Rossiter, Lloyd (for Marquis), Young, Perry, Pierre (for M. Feeney), Bloxham (for Sagoe Jr), Castledine (for O’Reilly);

Referee; Mr Thomas Parsons (Manchester)