Wigan Athletic Chairman Darren Royle

It was another late capitulation by Wigan Athletic in the 2-1 defeat by fellow strugglers Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.

Latics had led until the 87th minute with a Kieffer Moore header but their abysmal away form continued as they succumbed to late goals by former Latic Callum McManaman and George Moncur.

To compound Latics’ woes Chey Dunkley was dismissed for a second bookable offence and Charlie Mulgrew limped off with an injury leaving the club with only one available centre back Cedric Kipre for the forthcoming fixture against Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday.

Paul Cook’s men were once again the architects of their own downfall, giving the ball away too easily, conceding ground and panicking when under pressure.

The club are now firmly in the relegation zone and look incapable of escaping the drop unless their is a change in manager.

Cook made three changes to his starting line up, with Jamie Jones replacing the injured  David Marshall, whilst Jamal Lowe and Kieffer Moore replaced Michael Jacobs and Josh Windass.

Latics were under the cosh in the early stages and the Hatters could easily have been three up in the first 10 minutes.

Andrew Shinnie blazed high over the crossbar from a great position inside the box before Dujon Sterling’s goal line clearance denied former Latic Ryan Tunnicliffe and Harry Cornick headed over from the centre of the box.

Latics were relieved not to be behind and they gradually grew into the game taking the lead on 35 minutes when Dujon Sterling’s deep cross found Moore at the back post and the Wales international striker headed home.

Latics might have added to their lead soon afterwards when Moore got on the end of another Sterling cross but this time his shot went narrowly wide of the target.

At the other end keeper Jones made two good saves to deny James Collins and Tunnicliffe an equaliser.

The Hatters continued their pressure in the second half as Latics struggled to keep possession, giving the ball away far too easily.

Cook brought Joe Gelhardt and Gavin Massey to replace the tiring Joe Garner and Anthony Pilkington in the hope that Latics might grab a second goal.

But it was the former Latic McManaman who inevitably grabbed the Hatters the equaliser. The FA Cup winner with Wigan miscued his first shot but composed himself for his second attempt and fired low into the bottom corner past several defenders and Jones.

Mulgrew limped off on 90 minutes and was replaced by Kipre, and as in recent weeks Latics started to retreat deeper into defence and show signs of panic.

In the first minute of added time Dunkley received a second yellow card for a professional foul and Latics were reduced to ten men.

In the 93rd minute the Hatters snatched the late winner when a cross from the right evaded three of Latics’ defenders and the ball fell to Moncur who lashed the ball home much to the delight of the home crowd.

Latics were down and devastated. Cook’s time at the club must surely be coming to an end. His team have taken just two points in the last eight games and have not won away from home since April. Something has to change and the manager must take the responsibility for the poor form.

Chairman Darren Royle and the board must now act in the best interests of Wigan Athletic and make the change in manager before it is too late and the club has been relegated.