Weekly De-Brief: Wigan Athletic have made a huge statement in League One.
Following the return of League One football after the international break, Wigan Athletic have picked up 9 points from a possible 15 while keeping 5 clean sheets in the process. We are so back.
Over this past week, Wigan Athletic have hosted Exeter City and Peterborough United in our final two games of the home triple header.
Latics have put four more points on the board, following a well-earned draw against the Grecians and an emphatic 3-0 victory over the Posh.
Shaun Maloney’s side have now kept five clean sheets in a row following the return of League One football from the last international break in early September.
Let’s dive into what we saw this week and try to make some sense of it 👇🏼
Part One: The Unbeaten Run Continues
Part Two: Rotation = Stability and New Ideas
Part Three: The Weekly De-Brief
Part Four: Academy and Women’s Round-Up
Part Five: Our Next Week
The Unbeaten Run Continues 👊
Well, well, well. For all of the optimism and belief I have in this squad of players, I did not think I would be able to say that we have picked up 9 points from a possible 15 and kept 5 clean sheets from the 5 games after the international break. But, here we are.
After nine league games, Latics have picked up 3 wins and 3 draws to take our points total to 12, placing us fourteenth in the table. We also, statistically, have the joint-best defence in the league alongside Stevenage with just 5 goals conceded and 6 clean sheets.
Shaun Maloney’s ‘Tics’ are making a huge statement in League One, showing that money and experience do not always beat heart and desire. We have the latter two in abundance and a confidence that looks to be growing with each game that passes.
Of course, all good runs come to an end at some point, and we will be faced with some disappointment in the future. However, at this stage, I feel that an inevitable loss will only fire up this squad to bounce back quickly as a tight unit rather than heads dropping with a hopeless sense of feeling. We are not that sort of team, and that is a testament to the mentality and professionalism of this group.
A big conversation over the summer revolved around the lack of an experienced forward being brought into the football club. Following the departures of Charlie Wyke (31), Jordan Jones (29), Josh Magennis (34), and Stephen Humphrys (27), there looked to be an experienced hole that would be difficult to fill with Joe Hugill (20) and Dale Taylor (20) coming in on loan.
However, what we are seeing at the moment is a defence that is rock solid essentially saying “We have got us covered at the back, go and enjoy yourselves up the field and make things happen”. Will Aimson (30) has been excellent since stepping in alongside Jason Kerr (27), and both wouldn’t look out of place in a Championship fixture. They are keeping our back four watertight and that is giving our forwards players confidence to keep pushing on.
Sure, there have been games where our attackers haven’t had the answers. Hence, the three 0-0 draws in a row. Should that be a worry? No, not at this stage. We are still about a fifth of the way through the campaign, with players who are gelling and finding their feet either in a new squad or in senior football for the first time.
Latics have one more league game left until the next international break, and if we can stay unbeaten against Stockport County then our statement in League One is made even bigger. If we do get beat, then what a run this has been. It won’t be the last.
Rotation = Stability and New Ideas 🔄
When things are going well, which has been the case for Wigan Athletic recently, seeing a change to the starting eleven can cause a bit of panic.
It’s one of those things where if the squad changes and we lose, the blame will go on Shaun Maloney for upsetting the apple cart, but if we win, then Maloney will be praised for using more of the squad and still being able to pick up strong results. The latter is what we have been experiencing recently.
Latics injury list at the start of the campaign was fairly extensive. Luke Robinson (LB) has been out with a cartilage tear in his knee since last season, Calvin Ramsay (RB) has needed time to regain full fitness after historical injuries, Toby Sibbick (CB/RB) wasn’t up to full fitness following a lack of preseason with Hearts, Steven Sessegnon (LB/RB) has been struggling with injuries and fitness, Tyrese Francois (CM) signed with an ongoing injury problem, Michael Olakigbe (LM/RM) broke his leg in preseason, Jonny Smith (LM/RM) has been out with injury, and Maleace Asamoah (LM/RM) also signed with an ongoing injury problem.
Maloney’s hands have been unfairly tied with the injury issues he has had to manage, and this has meant that he has had to rely heavily on those players who are fit and available regardless of their experience or familiarity with our squad.
For example, Silko Thomas (LM on loan from Leicester City) is in his first senior season and has now picked up 10 appearances in all competitions. While Maloney would have liked to embed him slowly, our situation hasn’t allowed for that and Silko has been trying to get up to speed quickly. Over the last few games, we have seen glimpses of what he can do and that is exciting.
Slowly but surely, Maloney has been able to welcome more players into the matchday squad and this has brought rotational options into play. Olakigbe has returned and after two impressive substitute appearances was able to start against Peterborough. Jonny Smith came off the bench in that game too and looked in good form. Taylor can manage 90-minute spells up top. Ramsay is able to feature for more than an hour now, and Sibbick is looking strong in his sprinkling of cameos.
The most impressive part about Maloney being able to rotate the squad from game to game is that our overall stability across the field hasn’t been affected in these last five games.
👕 Starting XI vs Bristol Rovers: Tickle, Carragher, Kerr, Aimson, Chambers, M Smith, Weir, Rankine, Aasgaard, Thomas, Hugill
👕 Starting XI vs Lincoln City: Tickle, Carragher, Kerr, Aimson, Chambers, M Smith, Weir, Rankine, Aasgaard, Thomas, Hugill - Unchanged.
👕 Starting XI vs Stevenage: Tickle, Sibbick, Aimson, Kerr, Chambers, Adeeko, S Smith, McManaman, Weir, Thomas, Taylor - 5 changes
👕 Starting XI vs Exeter City: Tickle, Carragher, Kerr, Aimson, Chambers, Weir, M Smith, Rankine, Aasgaard, Thomas, Hugill - 5 Changes (Back to Bristol Rovers and Lincoln City lineup)
👕 Starting XI vs Peterborough United: Tickle, Ramsay, Kerr, Aimson, Chambers, M Smith, Adeeko, Olakigbe, Aasgaard, Thomas, Taylor - 4 Changes
While Kerr, Aimson, and Chambers have all stayed in the back line consistently, Latics have remained strong on our right side with the rotation of Carragher, Ramsay, and Sibbick.
The same goes for the midfield. Matt Smith has started in four out of five, with Weir being his partner for three games, Adeeko for one, and then Adeeko, Scott Smith, and Weir taking the starting spots against Stevenage. In none of those games did we look overrun in the midfield despite the changes.
Thomas is our only attacking player to start in all five games, with Aasgaard starting in four, Rankine and Hugill in three, Taylor in two, and Olakigbe and McManaman in one. Maloney has had to try different variations of our forward line to see what works, while resting and reintegrating players, and the experiments look to be delivering good results with new ideas being brought in.
The Weekly De-Brief 🤔
In the last de-brief “The bittersweet feeling of not getting beat”, I said that I had mixed feelings about how the previous week had played out with two 0-0 draws, but also that I was feeling more positive than negative about our situation.
After another 0-0 draw against Exeter City, I was still feeling positive about what we were seeing but felt we desperately needed to get another goal under our belt after going almost 300 minutes without celebrating.
The wait was worth the reward, as Dale Taylor scored two beautifully worked goals, and Callum McManaman rolled back the clock with an outstanding effort that was reminiscent of his Premier League days. I am still watching that goal back on repeat today. Wow.
With the next international break closing in, I expect the Northampton Town (H) game to be called off as Latics call-ups have already begun with three players receiving the call from their national sides.
🇳🇴 Thelo Aasgaard has been called up to represent Norway U21s.
🏴 Calvin Ramsay has been called up to represent Scotland U21s.
🟢 Dale Taylor has been called up to represent Northern Ireland U21s.
The England Young Lions squads for Luke Chambers and Sam Tickle are released this Friday 4th October, with Baba Adeeko also likely to receive a call from Ireland U21s this week.
Academy and Women’s Round-Up 🔵
Wigan Athletic Under 18s travelled to Birmingham City U18s in the U18 Professional Development League this week, with the hosts sitting one point above Latics before kick-off with a record of 4 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses.
👕 Starting XI: Trialist, Alex Hughes, Mason Goulding, Sam Bolland, James Knott ©️, Charley McKee, Christy Edwards, John-Paul Cavanagh, Oscar Harris, Reece Greenghalgh, Harrison Bettoni
🔄 Subs: Rohan Taylor, Zac Edwards, Olly Fairhurst, Harrison Rimmer, Cole Simms
Birmingham opened the scoring in the 40th minute, with a goal through Kian McCusker. Despite Latics having plenty of good attempts, an equaliser could not be found but a solid defence effort kept the scoreline to just 1-0.
Wigan drop to sixth in the table, with four wins and four losses from eight games.
Latics Under 18s had a double header this week, with an away trip to Accrington Stanley U18s in Round One of the LFA Professional Youth Cup 🏆
Stanley compete in the EFL Youth Alliance League, which is essentially the division below the U18 Professional Development League, and have won two and lost six of their opening eight games in all competitions.
👕 Starting XI: Rohan Taylor, Alex Hughes, Oliver Fairhurst, Sam Bolland, Zac Edwards, Liam Flight, Christy Edwards, Harrison Rimmer ©️, Cole Simms, John-Paul Cavanagh, Lewis Wilson
🔄 Subs: Trialist (GK), Oscar Harris, Alastair Clifford, Mason Goulding
Accrington started the game incredibly well, and after fifteen minutes they were 3-0 up thanks to Jacob Hanson, Anjola Popoola, and Yasin Al-Abbas hitting the target. A fourth goal was conceded just after the half-hour mark, with Rio Alston finding the net. At the break, the game looked out of reach for Latics…
Moments into the second half, Christy Edwards pulls one back for Latics after a driving run. Accrington then extended their lead to 5-1 with a second from Hanson, before Cole Simms diverted Lewis Wilson’s cross past the keeper. The provider then turned goalscorer two minutes later with a mighty strike.
As the clock hit 60 minutes, Christy Edwards smashed an effort in off the bar to put Latics within reach of an incredible comeback. Then, finally, Edwards’ cross in the 74th minute found John-Paul Cavanagh waiting in the box to head the equaliser home and take the tie to penalties. Incredible stuff.
Oscar Harris scored the first penalty, with Rohan Taylor denying Accrington an equaliser. Latics netted their second attempt, with Taylor making another huge save to edge Latics closer to the second round. Despite the Latics missing their third penalty, so did the hosts. Accrington’s keeper then denied Latics again, before they pulled one goal back.
After an incredible comeback, the goalscorer of the final goal in the 90 stepped up and buried his penalty to send Latics into the next round of the LFA Professional Youth Cup. Unbelievable mentality to keep going after being 4-0 down, and Wigan get their rewards.
⚽️ Goals: C. Edwards (46’, 60’), Simms (55’), Wilson (57’), Cavanagh (74’)
Wigan Athletic Under 21s travelled to Crewe Alexandra U21s in their U21 Professional Development League fixture, with the hosts having a similarly tough start to the campaign with 1 win, 1 draw, and 5 losses so far - the same at Latics.
👕 Starting XI: Matty Corran, Llyton Chapman, K’Marni Miller, Jack Rogers ©️, James Knott, Finn O’Boyle, Leo Graham, Reece Greenhalgh, Oscar Harris, Trialist, Harrison Bettoni
🔄 Subs: Trialist (GK), Harrison Rimmer, Sam Bolland, Christy Edwards, Cole Simms
Latics had a very difficult first half against Crewe, with Harrison Bettoni being dismissed after thirty minutes, leaving Wigan with 10 players for the remaining hour. Moments later, Fin Roberts put the hosts ahead.
Wigan battled well throughout the second half, and their pursuit of an equaliser paid off as a 90th minute penalty was converted by Leo Graham to secure a point on the road.
⚽️ Goals: Graham (Pen. 90’)
Wigan Athletic Women travelled to Lostock St Gerards Ladies on Sunday, with the hosts drawing one and losing two of their opening three games. Emmerson Boyce’s side had won five out of five heading into this encounter and knew that a win would put them top of the table due to Blackburn Community Sports Club Reserves not featuring over the weekend.
👕 Starting XI: Amelia Knowles, Sara Merican, Libby McCoy, Abbie Moore ©️, Laura Heslip, Niniola Dada, Molly Hassall, Grace Carr, Izzy Worswick, Avagrace Hodson, Ellie Cleary
🔄 Subs: Faye Moseley, Holly Scott, Tegen Baker, Louisa Black, Poppy Twist
I would give you three guesses to say who you think scored the opener, but you would be right with your first answer. Ellie Cleary, in the 11th minute, turned Sara Merican’s cross into the net. Six minutes later, Cleary put her name on the scoresheet again.
Latics didn’t let up after going two goals up, and Avagrace Hodson scored her second of the season on the 20-minute mark. What’s better than a brace? A hattick. And, Ellie Cleary secured her second of the season after 36 minutes.
The scorer then turned provider moments later as Izzy Worswick scored her second of the season to make it five in this game. Latics equalled their best goalscoring record in just 45 minutes!
Without a moment to breathe once the second half got underway, Ellie Cleary scored another goal to finish off Tegen Baker’s drive forward. Finally, just before the hour mark, Cleary bagged her fifth goal of the same, and Latics’ seventh. What a result!
⚽️ Goals: Cleary (11’, 17’, 36’, 46’, 57’), Hodson (20’), Worswick (38’)
Our Next Week 🗓️
Thursday 3rd October | Wigan Athletic U21s vs Accrington Stanley U21s | Lancashire FA Senior Cup First Round
Saturday 5th October | Stockport County vs Wigan Athletic | League One
Sunday 6th October | Wigan Athletic Women vs Chipping Ladies | FA Lancashire County Championship League
Tuesday 8th October | Wigan Athletic U21s vs Sheffield United U21s | U21 Professional Development League
Tuesday 8th October | Carlisle United vs Wigan Athletic | Bristol Street Motors Trophy Group Stage Matchday 2
On Thursday (3rd October), I will have a full match preview for our game against Stockport County, followed by another full match preview for our game against Carlisle United on Monday (7th October). So, make sure to subscribe and check back tomorrow! 🫡
Up the Tics 🔵⚪️
🙌 Thank you for reading!
✍🏼 Charlie Keegan / Central Wigan
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