Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs BRISTOL ROVERS

25^th January 2025

CARRA NETS HIS FIRST GOAL AS TICS GET BACK ON TRACK.

Wigan Athletic returned to winning ways at home after a reasonably comfortable 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers at the Brick Community Stadium.

Shaun Maloney opted to make four changes for the Sky Bet League One fixture, with Carragher, Luke Robinson, Silko Thomas and Joe Hungbo replacing Will Aimson, Jon Mellish, Michael Olakigbe and Jonny Smith in the starting line-up. Callum McManaman also made his return to the matchday squad.

Latics started on the front foot and grabbed the perfect start when a free kick from Joe Hungbo from the right found CARRAGHER who leaped highest to head into the corner for his first ever professional goal.

Dale Taylor was inches away from making it two moments later, but his shot from the edge of the box drifted just wide.

The visitors started to settle and Gatlin O’Donker picked up a loose ball and tested Sam Tickle from the edge of the box, but the young keeper made the save look routine. The keeper was in action again when he had to collect a low cross when under pressure from the Rovers strikers.

Hungbo, who looked lively on the right wing went down in the box but was subsequently correctly booked for simulation. Thelo Aasgaard then checked in on the left and let fly with a curling dipping shot that deflected narrowly wide.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Bristol Rovers.

The game was bogged down in midfield with neither side creating many chances. Then on the hour mark Tickle had to produce a superb save from close range to deny O’Donkor following a corner kick.

The save was to be crucial as ten minutes later substitute McHugh was able to intercept a loose pass and he found Taylor who slipped in Jonny SMITH and the winger calmly drew the keeper before slotting home the second goal of the game.

Aasgaard should have made it three a minute later when Thomas played him in on goal but his rising shot crashed against the crossbar from five yards out.

The Gas pushed to get back into the game, but Latics were always comfortable. Smith had a chance to add his second in added time, but his lobbed effort flew just over before another substitute, Jon Mellish did likewise minutes later.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 2-0 Bristol Rovers.

Scorers; Carragher (6), J. Smith (70);

Attendance; 10,112

Teams; WIGAN— (4-2-3-1) Tickle; Sibbick, Carragher, Kerr, Robinson; S. Smith, Norburn; Aasgaard, Hungbo, Thomas; Taylor; Subs: --- Watson, McHugh (for Sibbick), Aimson, McManaman, Goodwin (for Taylor), J. Smith (for Hungbo), Mellish (for Thomas);

BRISTOL ROVERS--- (4-5-1) Griffiths; Senior, Wilson, Taylor, Sousa; Sawyers, Ward, Thomas, Hutchinson, Sotiriou; O’Donkor Subs: --- Moore, Mola (for Sousa), Sinclair (for Thomas), Martin (for Hutchinson), Forde (for Sawyers), Lindsay (for Ward), Hall;

Referee; Mr. Scott Jackson (Lancashire).