Blue skies over Bloomfield Road

• Wigan Athletic suffered their second defeat of the season as they lost 2-1 to Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.
• Blackpool were ahead after only four minutes when new signing Jordan Rhodes converted CJ Hamilton’s cross.
• Latics struggled to respond and the hosts might’ve added to their lead but Tics keeper Sam Tickle did well to save Jensen Weir’s long range strike and Callum Connolly’s deflected free-kick.
• Latics did up their game in the second half and Callum Lang wasted a great chance to put them level.
• They did draw level in the 89th minute when substitute Josh Magennis headed past Daniel Grimshaw from Stephen Humphrys’ dinked cross.
• But it was to no avail as in the 94th minute substitute Matty Virtue’s low cross was turned home by fellow substitute Kenny Dougall to secure victory for Blackpool.
• Latics drop to 21st place in the League One table and Blackpool climb to 12th.

Shaun Maloney made one change to the starting line-up that lost against Barnsley with Liam Morrison coming in to replace the suspended Charlie Hughes.

In Latics’ first attack Callum McManaman might have been awarded a penalty.

Callum Lang drove forward at the Blackpool defence before he played in McManaman. The winger appeared to be caught as he chopped back inside his marker, but referee Anthony Backhouse waved away the Tics appeals.

Blackpool were ahead on four minutes. CJ Hamilton was given far too much space down Latics’ left-hand side and was unchallenged as he crossed for new signing Jordan Rhodes to score.

Latics tried to respond, and Stephen Humphrys’ shot was narrowly wide of the far post, with the ball going just out of the reach of Lang.

At the other end Tickle made a superb save to deny former Latic Jason Weir’s strike from distance.

Tickle was in fine form and made another fantastic save in the 22nd minute.

Another former Latic Callum Connolly fired a low free kick towards the far post, with a deflection looking to have taken it beyond Tickle but Latics’ keeper stuck out a superb right hand to grab the ball.

Although Latics were dominating possession they lacked the creativity to breakthrough the Blackpool formation and the hosts always looked dangerous on the counter attack.

Latics did go close in the 41st minute, Matt Smith’s free kick from the right was headed on by Humphrys to Kell Watts, but the defender’s close-range header was narrowly over the Seasiders’ crossbar.

The second half started well for the hosts with Hamilton once again tormenting Pearce down right-hand side. Only a brilliant defensive tackle from Liam Morrison diverted the ball away from Rhodes adding a second goal.

Latics should’ve been level soon afterwards as Humphrys broke down the right-hand side and fed Charlie Wyke who cut the ball back to the on-rushing Lang, but the striker saw his effort saved by Grimshaw. From the follow up McManaman had a goal disallowed for offside.

At the other end Hamilton continued to threaten setting up Albie Morgan to strike from just inside the box, but Tickle once again came to Latics rescue.

Maloney introduced substitutes Jonny Smith and James Balagizi for McManaman and Sean Clare but it was Tickle again performing heroics as he got down low to push away a curling Hamilton strike.

Maloney introduced Magennis from the bench as Latics continued to put the Seasiders’ defence under pressure and they drew level in the 89th minute.

Humphrys dinked a delightful ball into the far post, and Magennis rose highest to head beyond Grimshaw.

Excited at the prospect of winning the game they pushed forward but were hit on the counter attack with Dougall tapping in a 94th minute winner for the hosts.

Latics lost Morrison to injury soon afterwards as their afternoon got worse.

Plenty of food for thought for Maloney as the club now go into a two week hiatus due to the international break.

Overview

Latics are a young team and very much a work in progress but several players seriously underperformed at Blackpool.

Without the controlling influence of Charlie Hughes the team struggled for any real cohesion.

Matt Smith wasn’t at his best and was unable to dictate the play which resulted in too much sideways and backwards passing.

Latics just lacked the ideas and creativity to break through the Blackpool formation. Lang, Wyke, Humphrys and McManaman all struggled to make any impact in the first half.

Tom Pearce had a dreadful game, completely out of sorts and was at fault in the build up to both goals. He allowed Hamilton to cross the ball unchallenged for the first goal and was caught out of position for the second.

Despite an improved second half by Latics, Blackpool had been the better team. If it was not for the heroics of goalkeeper Sam Tickle, who has been called up by England U21s this week, the Seasiders would have surely won by more.

Post match comments

Speaking after the game to the media Maloney said he was disappointed that he was unable to repay the sold-out away crowd with a positive result following the late heartbreak.

“It is devastating when you lose to a goal that late,” he said.

“It is really difficult for the players and supporters because they feel the emotion, especially after the high of equalising and then conceding.

“I am disappointed again that I can’t come here and give the Away support a win, or at least something to come back with.

“I can’t criticise the way we defended the box with the goal because Liam (Morrison) stayed on the pitch when he was injured.

“The biggest thing is that we wasted a half – and when we come to a big club in our league, we can’t just waste a half when a team gives us the ball.

“The reason we have the ball is to try and dictate the game on our terms and there were definitely moments when the space opened up, we have to be more aggressive.

“My mentality is that I want to win games, and that’s what we will spend the next couple of weeks focusing on.”

The Gaffer was appreciative of the fans staying until the final whistle, and spoke of his determination to win games of football for them.

“The goal in the last minute really hurts but that’s football.

“I really do appreciate the fans clapping in tough moments and I think they know where the Club is at but that doesn’t mean I accept getting beat. I’ll be working very hard to give the fans as many wins as we can – we all want it!”

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