The Hillsborough Clock by Daniel Bagshaw

Almost inevitably Wigan Athletic lost away at Sheffield Wednesday.

Paul Cook’s team have now won only once in 27 away fixtures and it was another performance lacking in quality from the visitors at Hillsborough.

Massimo Luongo’s smart finish on 57 minutes from Adam Reach’s cutback was enough to seal the three points for Gary Monk’s team.

Latics did almost draw level when substitute Kieffer Moore’s header was tipped onto the crossbar by Keiren Westwood.

Wednesday nearly made the game safe on 74 minutes but Steven Fletcher’s close range finish was ruled out for offside after David Marshall had kept out Reach’s initial volley.

Latics remain in 19th place in the Championship table while Wednesday climb to eighth place.

Paul Cook made one change from the side which had defeated Birmingham City at the DW Stadium with Joe Garner replacing Moore.

The Owls started brightly with Luongo firing wide from a Kadeem Harris cross before Steven Fletcher shot wide from 25 yards.

The visitors best opportunity of the first-half came when Josh Windass broke with pace on the left and crossed with both Gavin Massey and Jamal Lowe denied at close range first by Westwood and secondly by an Owls defender before Massey fired wide of the target.

The hosts came closest to taking the lead in the first half when Barry Bannan expertly curled an effort against the post from 25 yards.

Wednesday continued to press early in the second half and it was no surprise when they went ahead on 57 minutes when Reach’s pull back from the left found Luongo who finished well from 15 yards.

Latics’ best opportunity for an equaliser came when Moore headed a Charlie Mulgrew set-piece towards goal but Westwood superbly tipped the striker’s header onto the crossbar.

Talented youngster Joe Gelhardt replaced Lowe on 78 minutes but Latics couldn’t build any momentum and Wednesday comfortably rode out the remaining minutes.

It was another disappointing afternoon for the small band of Latics supporters who made the journey to Sheffield as the team continues to struggle away from the DW Stadium.

The manager’s excuses about fine margins in the Championship cannot mask the terrible away form and the club will be locked in another relegation battle unless the away form is rectified.