Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs ROTHERHAM UNITED

21^st April 2025

CARRAGHER HEADER EARNS CRUCIAL WIN

Ryan Lowe steered Wigan Athletic to back-to-back league wins over the Easter weekend after backing up the Good Friday victory over Shrewsbury Town with another 1-0 victory, this time against Rotherham United at the Brick Community Stadium.

For the third game running, Lowe opted for an unchanged starting XI. The only alteration saw Dion Rankine come in for former Rotherham United loanee Joe Hungbo on the bench.

Latics thought they had taken the lead inside five minutes as Owen Dale’s cross saw Dale Taylor challenge goalkeeper Dillon Phillips for the ball. Taylor got his head to it, but the referee blew for a foul as the ball crept over the line before Phillips hastily gathered.

At the other end Sam Nombe got on the end of a bouncing ball in the box, to head towards goal, but Luke Robinson perfectly placed to deny him and clear the danger. Josh Kayode then had a big chance to convert, but he sliced his effort wide in the box after a nod down from Hakeem Odoffin.

Will Aimson finally forced a save from Phillips with a well struck drive from fully 25 yards, before Maleace Asamoah then forced the keeper into action again with a snap shot that the keeper had to turn around the post.

From the resulting corner, Latics grabbed the lead as Owen Dale’s deep corner found CARRAGHER at the back post and his header back across goal found the corner despite the desperate attempts of two defenders to head clear off the line.

Latics seemed to gather confidence and began to play with more freedom but the visitors nearly struck back as they were inches away from a leveller three mins from break when a free-kick found Malik Wilks whose free header crept just wide of Sam Tickle’s near post.

Rotherham went close again but Sam Tickle was quick to deny Nombe with a point-blank save to preserve the advantage.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Rotherham United.

Jensen Weir, who had a strong game in midfield for the hosts, tried his luck from distance early in the second half.

Dale Taylor then slipped in Asamoah Jr, but his low strike was saved by the feet of Phillips. Owen Dale then had a shot from distance saved before Rotherham United substitute Jonson Clarke-Harris was denied by a fine last-ditch block by ‘Man of the match’, James Carragher.

Latics substitute Jonny Smith nearly got his name on the scoresheet as he curled a trademark effort inches wide after cutting inside from the right.

The speedy winger then had another opportunity on the counter attack after brilliant play from the impressive Baba Adeeko had set Taylor free. Taylor then squared the ball to Smith, but after cutting inside, his final shot was deflected and flew over the crossbar.

As the final whistle approached the visitors pushed for a leveller, but they never really troubled Latics who secured a league double over Rotherham and six points from six over the Easter weekend.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Rotherham United.

Scorer; Carragher (36);

Attendance; 9,391

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

ROTHERHAM UNITED--- (3-4-2-1) Phillips; Humphries, Odoffin, James; Rafferty, Mpanzu, Powell, Sibley; Wilks, Nombe; Kayode; Subs: --- Bassett, Hugill, Hull, Clarke-Harris (for Kayode), McWilliams (for Rafferty), Holmes (for Mpanzu);

Referee; Mr. Greg Rollason (Wolverhampton)