A rare Latics attack at the Memorial Ground

• Wigan Athletic were comprehensively defeated 4-1 at Bristol Rovers.
• The hosts were ahead after only 13 minutes when Luke Thomas was too easily allowed to cut in from the right and shoot past Sam Tickle.
• Latics briefly rallied and Charlie Wyke brought the visitors level on 21 minutes when he tapped home from close range.
• But Rovers were soon back in front as five minutes later Jack Hunt scored from a tight angle with Latics defence statuesque.
• Things got worse for the visitors in the second half as Rovers dominated, and they increased their advantage when Aaron Collins finished from 12 yards after Tickle’s scuffed clearance went straight to a Rovers player.
• The Tics just couldn’t get out of their half and Rovers added a fourth when John Marquis headed in at the near post from Hunt’s cross on 68 minutes.
• Latics drop to 21st place in the League One table and Rovers are now in 12th place.

Shaun Maloney made one change to the starting line-up hat defeated Cambridge United, with Callum Lang replacing Stephen Humphrys, who was named on the bench.

Latics had an early chance to take the lead when Sean Clare won the ball and found Wyke, who fed Thelo Aasgaard in a good position but Aasgaard’s shot was dragged wide of the target.

The home side responded and in the 12th minute they were ahead. Rovers winger Thomas was allowed to cut inside and he curled the ball into the far corner of the net.

The Tics were level on 21 minutes. Martial Godo got past his defender and crossed towards the far post, Callum Lang headed the ball back across goal, and goalkeeper Cox could only push the ball to the edge of the area. The ball fell to Clare whose deflected shot was tapped home by Wyke for his sixth goal of the season.

But the home side quickly regained the lead six minutes later. Aaron Collins unleashed a powerful shot from range, which Tickle did well to push away, but Rovers continued the attack and the ball come to Hunt at the far post who managed to score from a tight angle with Latics’ defence statuesque.

2-1 to the hosts at the interval.

Maloney introduced wingback Tom Pearce to replace Omar Rekik for the second half, but it was the home side who soon increased their lead.

Finley picked up Tickle’s scuffed clearance and played the ball over the top into the path of Collins, who smashed the ball into the far corner.

Maloney needed to make changes if the Tics were to get back in the game and he introduced Stephen Humphrys for Aasgaard on 55 minutes.

But the visitors continued to be pegged back in their own half and it took a full length low save from Tickle to keep out Antony Evans’ powerful long-range strike.

Josh Magennis and Scott Smith replaced Lang and Clare on 65 minutes in an attempt to change the direction of travel but Joey Barton’s team added a fourth in the 68th minute. Hunt found space down the right and his cross into the near post was headed powerfully into the net by Marquis.

Callum McManaman replaced Godo in the 79th minute as Latics tried to get a consolation goal but it was to no avail as Bristol Rovers ran out deserved winners.

Latics will require a big improvement if they are to overcome unbeaten Portsmouth at the DW Stadium next Saturday.

Overview

This was a very disappointing performance by Latics as they lost the battle in most areas of the pitch.

They were just too fragile throughout and their soft centre was exposed by a more competitive Rovers. Matt Smith, Baba Adeeko, Charlie Hughes, Liam Morrison, Tickle and Rekik all had an off day.

Maloney’s men currently lack tempo and often their decision making is just too slow. Lang and Aasgaard were particularly ineffective in this game.

After this sub-standard display Maloney will have plenty of food for thought. Latics are a young and inexperienced team but this performance fell well below the standards required.

His preferred line up is failing at the moment and changes will have to be made in defence with a possible return for Kell Watts and Pearce and in midfield with a start for Liam Shaw.

Wyke and Godo did their best but they just didn’t get the service they require and deserve.

Humphrys did ok as a late substitute and he should surely start next week against Portsmouth.

Shaun Maloney with plenty of food for thought

Post match comments

Speaking to the media afterwards Maloney said it was the first half display which disappointed him, admitting his side lacked desire and aggression.

“I was really disappointed with the first half, I think I’ve spoken before on camera about almost wasting a half of football. I felt we had chances in the first half, but that we were actually lucky to go in 2-1 down. I thought we were nowhere near it in terms of just our desire without the ball.

“The second half were when mistakes happen. There’s things within in it where I still want more in terms of being a lot more aggressive when we have the ball. But at the point where it starts to get to three, and four goals, they’re (Bristol Rovers) very happy.

“I think with the squad we have, there’s moments where in the first part of the season we’ve won three or four and we think everything’s very, very good. Then we have two back-to-back away defeats. I felt a similar feeling as I did last time and it’s something I have to eradicate. We have to play every single game like it means the absolute world to us.”

On the goals conceded, Maloney believed Latics could have defended better, but admitted Bristol Rovers were the better team on the day.

“We could have sprinted quicker to recover, and then particularly the fourth goal we could have defended our box better,” he continued.

“We were two vs. one against their nine. It sort of summed up the day really. They were better than us in terms of how they wanted to compete. They were the better team than us today. It’s a sore one when that happens.”

The manager went on to admit that consistency is something his young Tics’s side must now try and find.

“Some of these players have played less than 10 league games in their senior careers. I have to be aware of that. I take it for granted Charlie Hughes is 19 years-old, I don’t even know if he’s played 30 games yet but I’m relying so heavily on him, the same as Sam Tickle.

“Sometimes, we’re going to have to take a blow like this. You can lose games. That’s football, you have to get used to it at times. It doesn’t make it any easier, but as long as we give 100% in every action, generally, I won’t be too angry with the players. But when they don’t, then I can’t accept it.”

Player ratings

Player ratings courtesy of Whoscored.com