Latics players dedicated the victory to Charlie Wyke – photograph courtesy of Wigan Athletic

• Wigan Athletic moved up to second place in the League One table with a 2-1 victory at Plymouth Argyle.

• Callum Lang’s 90th minute strike ensured Latics secured an important three points at fourth placed Plymouth.

• The visitors had taken the lead in the 36th minute after Thelo Aasgaard had set up Will Keane but the hosts drew level from a Danny Mayor strike in the 43rd minute.

• The game ebbed and flowed with chances at both ends before Lang’s cool finish from Keane’s through ball sent the visiting supporters into raptures.

• The Latics players dedicated the victory to striker Charlie Wyke who had collapsed in training this week.

Leam Richardson made four changes to the team which had drawn at Cambridge on Tuesday night with Tendayi Darikwa, Jason Kerr, Tom Naylor, and Thelo Aasgaard replacing Gavin Massey, Tom Pearce, Tom Bayliss and Gwion Edwards. 

Latics made a positive start at Home Park in very windy conditions, with Aasgaard blazing wide after 11 minutes.

James McClean forced a save from Michael Cooper on 22 minutes before the hosts forced a succession of corners between the 22nd and 25th minutes.

The teams alternated control as Latics pressure then resulted in a series of corners at the other end.

Latics went in front on 35 minutes when Aasgaard chased a ball near the touchline before cutting it back to Keane who brought the ball under control and then turned it home from close range.

Latics’ players immediately went to the dugout to celebrate the goal with Charle Wyke’s number nine shirt held aloft.

The hosts responded to Keane’s goal with a spell of pressure and Max Power made a superb block to deny Connor Grant an equaliser.

But on 43 minutes Argyle were level when McClean lost possession and Mayor’s strike from inside the box beat keeper Ben Amos.

All level at the interval with both teams looking dangerous going forward.  

Latics were quick out of the blocks at the start of the second half and McClean’s cross nearly found Lang in the box, before Naylor’s strike went wide of the target from outside the box.

Argyle responded and forced a series of corners at the other end but Latics were resolute in defence with Jason Kerr in particular having an outstanding game.

It looked as though Latics had restored their lead around the hour mark with Keane and McClean both having opportunities but Cooper somehow clawed the ball off the line to save Argyle.

When the hosts pressed forward they were unable to really test Amos and their shots either flew high or wide of the target.

Darikwa tried his luck from outside the box on 61 minutes and his strike was only narrowly wide of Cooper’s left hand post.

At the other end Panutche Camara had a shot deflected wide by a Latics defender as the game continued to ebb and flow.

Stephen Humphrys replaced Aasgaard on 67 minutes and he was soon in the thick of the action forcing an excellent save from Cooper after good work by McClean and Max Power.

In the 88th minute Latics went close with Lang at the back post but he couldn’t quite convert and was flagged offside.

But two minutes later Lang produced a composed finish into the bottom corner from Keane’s through ball to send the 700 travelling Latics supporters into raptures. 

Afterwards Manager Leam Richardson commented on an emotional week for the club.

“That’s the toughest week I’ve ever had in football, and as a football club I’m so proud of the way we’ve come through it.

“To win it that late, in the 90th minute, to keep going the way we did, showed the character we have in the group.

“Obviously Charlie is constantly in our thoughts, constantly in our conversations, and he’s in the best place he could possibly be now.

“Fingers crossed, he’s been improving every day, and hopefully he’ll be back fit and healthy before too long.”

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