Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs READING

1^st March 2025

INCONSISTENCY COSTS WIGAN THE POINTS AND MALONEY HIS JOB.

Latics were on the end of a 2-1 home defeat to in-form Reading despite going ahead through a Jason Kerr header.

The manager rewarded the same 18 players who had impressed against Huddersfield Town in midweek with the opportunity to go again at the Brick Community Stadium.

Sam Tickle had to be alert in the first half as he denied the visitors on three separate occasions. The visitors had the first sight at goal as Lewis Wing fired a rasping effort following a short free-kick from 25 yards towards the bottom corner, but Tickle somehow tipped it around the post.

Latics were slowly gaining a foothold in the game and after the first 20 minutes, despite dominating possession and controlling proceedings they were still yet to test Pereira in the Reading goal.

Andre Garcia, following a corner from the right, volleyed an effort which looked destined for the back of the net but again Tickle stayed big and got in the way of the effort, then Harvey Knibbs had a shot deflected onto the roof of the net via Jason Kerr before Tyler Bindon drew another good save from Tickle, down to his left.

Ronan Darcy tried his luck with a 35-yard free kick which flew over before two minutes from the break Jonny Smith drew Pereira’s first save after a quick counter attack. Kerr won the ball high up and that allowed Smith to cut inside and curl an effort at goal which Pereira did brilliantly to tip over the crossbar.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Reading.

Johnny Smith had the first shot on target in the second half, cutting in from the right again, but his whipped effort was straight into the hands of Pereira.

Wigan threatened again when a Smith free-kick from the left then so nearly found its way to the feet of Jon Mellish, but the ball deflected off him and flew to safety.

Latics finally took the lead on the hour mark when a Smith corner found KERR free at the back post and his header into the ground found its way past Pereira for his first goal of the season.

Just 11 minutes after going behind the visitors equalised as Charlie Savage found WAREHAM who had ghosted into space in between the Latics defenders and he made no mistake as he finished well inside the box and tucked the ball home.

Reading continued to look dangerous and Noel Hunt’s men hit the crossbar from a corner of their own six minutes from time before Harvey Knibbs was denied by Tickle from close range.

As time ran out another Reading corner caused a scramble in the box and BINDON fired into the roof of the net from close range to snatch all three points.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 1-2 Reading.

Scorers; Kerr (60); Wareham (71), Bindon (86);

Attendance; 9,402

Teams; WIGAN— (4-2-3-1) Tickle; Sibbick, Aimson, Kerr, Mellish; Norburn, Adeeko; Darcy, Dale, J. Smith; Taylor; Subs: --- Watson, Weir (for Darcy), Rankine (for J. Smith), L. Robinson, McManaman (for Dale), S. Smith (for Norburn), McHugh (for Sibbick);

READING-- (4-2-3-1) Pereira; Rushesha, Mbengue, Bindon, Garcia; Knibbs, Wing; Savage, Wareham, Bodin; Camara; Subs: --- Button, Abrefa (for Garcia), Yiadom (for Bodin), Holzman (for Camara), Akande (for Rushesha), Strickland, Sackey;

Referee; Mr. Ollie Yates (Staffordshire).