Martial Godo gave Latics the lead

• Ten-man Wigan Athletic were narrowly defeated 2-1 by League One leaders Portsmouth at the DW Stadium.
• Latics went ahead on 27 minutes after a flowing move superbly finished by Fulham loanee Martial Godo.
• The visitors drew level four minutes later as Jack Sparkes’ corner was flicked on by Colby Bishop for Regan Poole to bundle over the line.
• Portsmouth took the lead on 37 minutes when Paddy Lane fired the ball past Sam Tickle after Joe Rafferty had headed the ball down.
• The hosts were reduced to 10-men early in the second half when Charlie Wyke was shown a red card for a reckless challenge on Marlon Pack.
• The ten-men battled to the end and they had a strong shout for a penalty for hand ball by Pack but Portsmouth held on to strengthen their position at the top of the table.
• Latics are in 22nd place while Portsmouth are now one point ahead of second place Oxford United.

Maloney made four changes to the side that were defeated 4-1 by Bristol Rovers, with Sean Clare, Liam Morrison, Matt Smith and Callum Lang being replaced by Kell Watts, Scott Smith and Stephen Humphrys, with Steven Sessesgnon also coming in to make his Latics debut.

In a closely fought opening period the first opportunity came in the 18th minute.

Thelo Aasgaard broke into the Portsmouth penalty area and went down under a challenge but referee  Will Finnie waved away Latics’ appeals.

Latics had a great opportunity to go ahead a minute later as Godo cut the ball back to Scott Smith inside the area but the midfielder fired over the crossbar. 

The hosts did go ahead on 27 minutes with the impressive Godo scoring his first League One goal. After a flowing move involving Rekik, Scott Smith and Wyke, the on-loan winger Godo went past his marker and cut inside before firing a low strike into the corner of the net.

The hosts now needed to not let the visitors back into the game, but they were quickly undone as Poole equalised in the 31st minute. Sparkes’ corner was headed towards goal, and as Latics defence failed to clear Poole bundled the ball over the line.

It was not long before Pompey added a second goal. Marlon Pack’s cross was headed back across goal by Rafferty to find Alex Robertson, and Lane fired past Tickle.

Early in the second half Latics’ task got much harder as they went down to 10-men after Wyke’s late challenge on Pack.

Maloney now had to make changes and he brought on Sean Clare and Callum Lang to replace Rekik and Aasgaard in the 54th minute.

Despite being a man down Latics worked hard to draw level but they struggled to create chances against a resolute Pompey. 

Jonny Smith replaced Humphrys in the 68th minute as Latics pushed for the equaliser but it was the visitors who went closest in the 72nd minute.

After a neat piece of skill Gavin Whyte broke into the Latics penalty area and produced a low drive towards the near post, but Tickle did well to get down and push the ball wide of the goal.

Maloney continued to make changes to try and draw his team level, with Callum McManaman and Josh Magennis replacing Godo and Sessesgnon.

Latics best chance of the half came when McManaman did well to beat his marker and cross to the far post to find Jonny Smith, but unfortunately the winger headed wide of the target.

Pompey might have increased their lead in the 84th minute but for a superb save by Tickle. Robertson’s low drive from the edge of the area looked destined for the bottom corner, but Tickle produced a full length dive to his right to tip the ball around the post.

The hosts continued to work hard against the 11-men, but they just couldn’t fashion any real goalscoring opportunities and Pompey held out fairly comfortably.

Overview

This performance wasn’t as bad as Bristol Rovers, but Latics were outplayed in the first half and then after Wyke’s red card they just couldn’t repair the damage against tough opposition.

Latics will not come up against much stronger opponents than Portsmouth who are unbeaten in 21 games and deservedly lead the League One table. 

Maloney’s young team are still learning and some careless defending and a red card put paid to their hopes against Pompey.

Referee Finnie had a poor game and incensed the home crowd with many of his decisions. On another day the referee might’ve awarded at least one penalty as Aasgaard and then Wyke were pushed in the box and Pack handled the ball.

Looking positively Fulham loanee Godo was again very impressive on the wing and he took his goal with great aplomb. Scott Smith was tenacious in midfield and added more steel to an area where Latics have struggled recently. Stephen Sessesgnon had a promising debut at right back, and as he gets fitter he should be a good addition. 

Latics travel to Burton Albion on Tuesday night knowing they must quickly get back to winning ways after the recent setbacks. They will be without striker Wyke, so it is likely that Magennis will deputise and there could be a start for midfielder Liam Shaw who impressed against Leicester U21’s in the Football League Trophy. 

Post match comments

Maloney was disappointed with the defeat, but was proud of his team’s efforts after their resolute second half display with a man less.

“I was really proud of the team in the second half, Maloney said afterwards, “I think the difference in the game was they defended their box better than we did. For the first 35 minutes, I was very happy with how we played against the best team in the league at the moment.

“When we went down to 10 men I think the effort the team showed and the supporters really got behind the players and clapped them off at the end. It’s never nice to get beat, but the difference between how I feel this week to last week is very different.”

“Our goal was brilliant with how we played through Portsmouth, but it’s not enough. I think that’s a big lesson the youngsters have to take. That intensity has to be there to stop a cross, the concentration and understanding of the positions to defend when a cross does come in. We’re all in a rush to win games and get to where we’re trying to get to. I’m the same, but we also have to improve the younger players and it’s that balance between developing players and trying to win games.”

On the difference between his side and the visitors Portsmouth, Maloney admitted that Latics need to improve their defending in their own box. 

“I think the difference in the game was they defended their box better than we did. For the first 35 minutes, I was very happy with how we played against the best team in the league at the moment.

“When we went down to ten men I think the effort the team showed and the supporters really got behind the players and clapped them off at the end. It’s never nice to get beat, but the difference between how I feel this week to last week is very different.”

Godo was impressive and took his first Latics goal very well and the Gaffer was quick to point that out.

“Martial’s been excellent. In the three games he’s had he’s been brilliant. He trained like that the first 10 days he was here. That’s why, straight away he started. He’s been excellent.

“This is what we want. We want exciting players in wide areas. When I came in I made us very hard to beat, now I want us to be exciting to watch. I want us to win games, desperately want us to win games, but we do have talented players, and Martial is definitely one of them.”

Maloney was quizzed on the red card to Charlie Wyke and a number of penalty shouts which were turned down.

“I haven’t seen those two back (Aasgaard and Wyke penalty appeals). The handball one I think the referee got it wrong, but I never stand hear and complain too often about referees. Maybe that one went against us but you get that in football. Maybe in a few weeks, we’ll get one go for us,” he continued.

“(On the red card) At the time I thought it was harsh. I’ve seen it again, but I’ll have to see it from the other angle. From the angle I’ve just seen I think maybe the referee got it right, but I’ll have to see it again from the other angle. It had a big impact on the game. It was hard enough 11 v 11 against the best team in the league. It became even harder with one less man”.

The manager also added that despite the result, the focus must now switch to Burton on Tuesday night.

“We go straight into training tomorrow. I don’t like losing games, but there are certain ways you can accept it. Last week I couldn’t accept. This week, sometimes things happen in a match that makes things harder in terms of sending-offs,” he concluded.

“I was proud of the performance and pleased with large parts of it, but we have to improve on our defending of the box. If we do that then we’re a match for any team in this league. This (Portsmouth) is the best team in our league and for the majority of the game, I thought we were very good. But we need to understand the importance of stopping crosses and defending our box or otherwise, we’re going to need three or four goals every game.”  

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