Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs STEVENAGE

24^th September 2024 

WIGAN FIRE BLANKS ON A FRUSTRATING EVENING.

Wigan Athletic and Stevenage played out a goalless draw at the Brick Community Stadium, with Latics now three games unbeaten in Sky Bet League One.
Manager Maloney surprised most of the Latics faithful by making a total of five unforced changes to the side that had performed so well at Lincoln with Sibbick, Adeeko, Scott Smith, McManaman and Dale Taylor all earning starts.

New signing Olakigbe took his place on the substitutes bench for the first time after picking up an injury in pre-season following his loan signing from Brentford.

The visitors, who can boast the enviable record of being the only side in the Football League to have never lost to the Latics, began brightly with Jamie Reid going close after a well worked free kick routine inside the first five minutes. Big centre half Carl Piergianni won the aerial duel and the ball fell invitingly for Reid but he pulled his shot narrowly wide.

The game became bogged down in midfield, with neither side seemingly prepared to over commit in the attacking third and frustrations started to boil with McManaman picking up a booking following a crunching tackle on Jordan Roberts.

Latics began to get the upper hand with Chambers causing problems on the left wing and his rising shot from 30 yards flew just over the visitor’s crossbar.  McManaman then had a curling effort that deflected off a defender when it looked destined for the net, before another Chambers run and cross beat the defence but was just beyond Sibbick as he reached to try and get the vital touch.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Stevenage.

The second half saw Stevenage starting to dominate more of the ball and Harvey White curled a free kick just wide of Sam Tickle’s near post, then at the other end Silko Thomas picked out McManaman, but the veteran winger, who is not really renowned for his heading ability could only direct his effort back across goal and the defence scrambled the ball to safety.

Maloney made three changes, including the introduction of debutant Olakigbe, and the Brentford loanee was straight into the action, beating his man down the left and pulling the ball back for Baba Adeeko who forced a diving save from the goalkeeper.

Olakigbe was a real bright spark and this time he was able to cut in off the left wing before firing in a low curling effort which looked like it might find the far corner, only for Murphy Cooper to tip the effort round the post.

Both sides pushed for a winner, but the points were shared in the end and the frustration of players and crowd became more vocal.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Stevenage.

Attendance: 7419

Teams; WIGAN— (4-3-3) Tickle; Sibbick, Aimson, Kerr, Chambers; S. Smith, Weir, Adeeko; McManaman, Thomas, Taylor; Subs; -- Watson, Rankine (for Thomas), M. Smith (for S, smith), Aasgaard (for Weir), Stones, Carragher (for Chambers), Olakigbe (for McManaman);

STEVENAGE— (4-2-3-1) Cooper; Butler, Piergianni, N. Thompson; James-Wildin; White, L. Thompson; Roberts, Phillips, Kemp; Reid; Subs; -- Freeman (for Reid);

Referee; Mr Ben Toner (Lancashire)