Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

ROTHERHAM UNITED vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

26^th December 2024

RARE ADEEKO STRIKE LETS LATICS CLAIM THREE POINTS.

Wigan Athletic gave Latics fans a belated Christmas present on Boxing Day after a thoroughly deserved 1-0 away victory at Rotherham United.

Baba Adeeko bagged his first professional goal in first half added time after brilliant play from Jonny Smith down the right and that proved to be the winner.

Shaun Maloney made one change from our previous Sky Bet League One outing, with Silko Thomas replacing fellow loanee Micheal Olakigbe.

Former Latics defender and two-time Sky Bet League One winner Reece James started for the hosts, while Christ Tiéhi missed out through injury for Steve Evans' side.

The hosts started on the front foot with former Tic James firing over before the in-form Dale Taylor tested Dillon Phillips in the sevenenth minute.

Mallik Wilks then nipped in at the near post, but fired high and wide of Sam Tickle’s goal as Rotherham struggled to make their dominance of possession turn into goal-scoring chances.

Jonny Smith then cut in from the right and curled an effort just wide before a big chance fell to the home side as a cross from the right was headed over by Andre Green with Tickle, for once, badly misjudging the flight of the ball. Tickle made amends a few minutes later when Joe Powell tested him from distance, and after diving full length to palm away the first effort Tickle was quickly up to grasp the loose ball.

Jonny Smith again drove forward from deep and fired at Phillips before Thomas had a superb curling effort from the edge of the box tipped wide.

That Thomas effort was to be the catalyst for the goal on the stroke of half time as Jonny Smith did brilliantly down the right to beat his man and he pulled the ball back for ADEEKO who was free 10 yards out to fire home for his first ever professional goal.

Half Time; Rotherham United 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

The hosts were hurt by the opening goal and Mallik Wilks cut in from the right and tested Tickle with a low drive that the keeper did well to beat away. Baba Adeeko then broke forward down the right, and with his confidence high after his goal he so nearly put it on a plate for Taylor, but the Rotherham defence was just able to clear.

Captain Jason Kerr had a huge chance to double our lead on 57 minutes as a Jonny Smith corner found him free and unmarked at the back post, but he headed wide from close-in. However, with Wigan now bossing the game a second goal seemed almost certain and the lively Thomas broke down the left and pulled the ball back for Steven Sessegnon, but his effort deflected behind.

Jonny Smith, who was now a constant threat, checked inside again off the right and had a deflected effort saved by Phillips.

The second goal just would not come for the Latics and Steve Evans' men pushed late on for a leveller, but Latics held firm for a vital and very welcome belated Christmas three points.

Full Time; Rotherham United 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Adeeko (45+3);

Attendance; 9,509

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

ROTHERHAM UNITED--- (4-2-3-1) Phillips; Rafferty, Odoffin, McCart, James; Kelly, Powell; Wilks, Green, Nombe; Clarke-Harris; Subs: --- Dawson, Bramall, Hugill (for Clarke-Harris), MacDonald (for Nombe), McWilliams (for Kelly), Hungbo (for Green), Humphreys (for McCart)

Referee; Mr. Martin Coy (Durham)