Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs BIRMINGHAM CITY

4^th January 2025

CLINICAL BLUES MAKE LATICS SUFFER A NEW YEAR HANGOVER

The quality of high-flying Birmingham City told after a clinical 3-0 victory over Latics at the Brick Community Stadium.

Jenson Weir replaced the injured Adeeko in the starting XI and new signing Hungbo was given a place on the bench instead of Silko Thomas who was also suffering a slight niggle.

Wigan tore into the league leaders, closing them down quickly and causing plenty of problems for the Blues defence that had their keeper Allsop to thank for keeping the scores level. Michael Olakigbe looked sharp down the left and when one of his crosses went all the way through to Smith his deflected shot was somehow blocked by Allsop who did well to stick out a leg and divert the ball to safety. Jonny Smith curled a shot narrowly wide and both Sessegnon and Scott Smith had shots charged down.

Against the run of play the visitors went ahead. A cross from the right from Laird was only palmed away by Sam Tickle and MAY was there to pounce and fire into the corner. The goal was areal blow to Latics who had been much the brighter of the sides, but they continued to press and it was another momentary lapse in defence that allowed MAY to double his and Birmingham’s tally on the half hour mark.  A chipped ball in behind Stephen Sessegnon saw Laird finding space and his cross was perfectly weighted for the number nine to tap home.

Wigan nearly grabbed a goal back, that would have been well deserved, when Olakigbe had an effort from 12 yards which struck the post and again the rebound fell favourably for the visitors who were able to clear.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-2 Birmingham City.

Birmingham had clearly had words at half time and their tactical changes served to reduce the space that the Wigan players could exploit. The visitors sat deeper and played on the break and this nearly paid dividends early in the second half as May played in Willumsson. The forward, who wanted far too long, checked back inside instead of shooting and that allowed Will Aimson to get back and make the block.

Birmingham did make it three on 61 minutes as Laird crossed for WILLUMSSON who was free inside the box and this time made no mistake, he struck his shot first time low past Tickle, who ad no time to react and save. Jenson Weir tried his luck from 25 yards with a free-kick which was caught by Allsop before Jason Kerr had an effort cleared off the line inside the final seven minutes.

Hungbo was one of several substitutes used and impressed with his willingness to take on his man, but the game was gone and City never looked in danger of giving away those vital points as they chase promotion to the Championship.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 0-3 Birmingham City.

Scorers; May (18), (30), Willumsson (61);

Attendance; 13,485

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

BIRMINGHAM CITY--- (4-2-3-1) Allsop, Laird, Klarer, Davies, Cochrane; Iwata, Paik; Willumsson, Harris, Gardner-Hickman, May; Subs: ---Sanderson, Jutkiewitz (for Willumsson), Wright (for Iwata), Leonard (for Harris), Dykes (for May), Yokoyama (for Gardner-Hickman), Peacock-Farrell

Referee; Mr. Lee Swabey (Plymouth).