Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

LEYTON ORIENT vs WIGAN ATHLETIC.

5^th April 2025

DEFENCE STANDS FIRM TO WITHSTAND O’s ONSLAUGHT.

Wigan Athletic and playoff chasing Leyton Orient played out a goalless draw at Brisbane Road in what could prove to be a valuable point for Ryan Lowe's men.

It was a tight first half, with the home side dominating possession, but without either team really troubling the opposition goalkeepers. The hosts created more chances in the second half, but they could not beat Sam Tickle in the Latics goal.

Lowe opted to make two changes from the last league outing, with Luke Robinson and Jensen Weir replacing Ollie Norburn and Asamoah Jr in the starting line-up. There were returns to the matchday squad for Luke Chambers and Toby Sibbick.

The hosts started brightly and forced two early corners which ultimately came to nothing, but the early warning signs were there.

Latics threatened on 13 minutes as Jonny Smith switched the play to Robinson and his first time cross was inches away from finding a Tics man inside the box.

Will Aimson then came to Latics rescue when he put in a brilliant last-ditch challenge to deny the dangerous Dan Agyei who broke into the box and was bearing down on goal.

The best chance of the game thus far fell to Ethan Galbraith who nipped in front of Owen Dale on the edge of the box and volleyed the ball wide of Tickle’s right-hand post.

Orient now had most of the possession, but Dale Taylor was played through on the counter-attack, but Brandon Cooper recovered well to halt the Notts Forest loanee in the box, the ball fell to Harry McHugh but he dragged his shot wide.

Half Time; Leyton Orient 0-0 Wigan Athletic.

Manager Lowe introduced Asamoah Jr at the break, but it was Orient who had the first chance of the second half as Agyei whipped in a good cross, but the ball struck Randell Williams who was free in the box and rebounded away to safety.

Tickle was called upon to deny Williams from distance before he then had to divert Agyei’s shot, again from distance, over the crossbar.

Orient had a big chance to grab the opening goal on 66 minutes as a cross-hit shot found its way to Azeem Abdulai in the box, but he snatched at the opportunity and could only divert the effort wide.

Orient were now totally dominant and Scott Smith had to divert another Orient attack behind for a corner before Tickle again came to the rescue, this time denying Diallang Jaiyesimi at the back post following a deep-cross from Dilan Markanday.

Gailbraith fired wide inside the final 10 minutes before another big chance for the hosts went begging as Dan Happe’s effort at the back post was deflected inches wide.

The final whistle was a great relief to the Tics as they had managed to hold on for what may yet prove to be an important point as they try and stave off the threat of relegation.

Full Time; Leyton Orient 0-0 Wigan Athletic.

Attendance; 3,069

Teams; WIGAN— (4-3-3) Tickle; Carragher, Aimson, Kerr, Robinson; S. Smith, Weir, McHugh; J. Smith, Dale, Taylor; Subs: --- Watson, Hungbo, McManaman (for Robinson), Chambers, Mellish (for McHugh), Asamoah (for J. Smith), Sibbick (for Dale);

LEYTON ORIENT--- (3-4-3) Keeley; James, Cooper, Happe; Currie, Clare, Galbraith, Williams; Markanday, Agyei, Abdulai; Subs: --- Brown (for James), Donley (for Williams), Pratley, Beckles, Kelman (for Agyei), Phillips, Jaiyesimi (for Abdulai);

Referee; Mr. Scott Tallis. (Coventry)