• Wigan Athletic slumped to 1-0 defeat against in form Derby County at the DW Stadium.
• Craig Nelson’s header in the 19th minute was enough to give the Rams a deserved victory.
• The visitors dominated the first half and could easily have been three up at half time.
• Latics rallied in the second half and enjoyed more possession but rarely looked like equalising until the last 10 minutes.
• However, Derby held out to avenge their defeat at Pride Park in August.
• Latics drop to 19th place and Derby remain in fourth place in the League One table.

Shaun Maloney made four changes from the defeat against Reading with Charlie Hughes, Baba Adeeko, Chris Sze and Stephen Humphrys coming in for Callum McManaman, Charlie Wyke, Jordan Jones and Liam Shaw.

Latics made a brisk opening but the visitors soon started to assert their dominance.

Tom Barkhuizen blazed over from a corner after nine minutes.

Kane Wilson was then denied by a brilliant save from Sam Tickle on 11 minutes, diving low down to his right to keep out Wilson’s header. Eiran Cashin tried to convert the rebound from a tight angle, but the ball came off the post before it was bundled away.

Derby took a deserved lead on 19 minutes as Humphrys gave the ball away to Tom Barkhuizen and his cross was headed home by Curtis Nelson.

Craig Forsyth then had a goal disallowed for a foul on Steven Sessegnon on 22 minutes.

It continued to be one-way traffic as the Rams pressurised the Latics defence.

Sean Clare played a dangerous back pass but Tickle did superbly to deny James Collins when one-on-one.

Latics failed to have a shot on target in a miserable first half which was completely dominated by the visitors.

Maloney introduced Callum McManaman and Jonny Smith for McHugh and Sze at the break, but it was Derby who first went close.

A cross from the right found its way through to Barkhuizen at the back post, but he scuffed his effort into the side netting.

Barkhuizen then tried his luck from distance, forcing another very good save from Tickle who tipped his effort over the crossbar.

Latics then started to gain more possession and finally threatened when Scott Smith’s cross was met by Humphrys at the back post, but the striker’s volley from a narrow angle was straight at keeper Joe Wildsmith.

McManaman was posing a threat down the left and he cut into the box and fired a shot at goal but unfortunately it hit the side netting.

Liam Shaw replaced Sessegnon on 71 minutes as Latics continued to press forward.

Clare then headed over from Jonny Smith’s free kick on 81 minutes.

Josh Magennis replaced Lang on 82 minutes.

Jonny Smith then did superbly as he drove down the right before having an effort deflected wide.

Latics continued to push for an equaliser for the remaining minutes, but the rally was all too late and Derby came away with the three points.

Overview

This was another game of two halves as Derby dominated the first half and could easily have been three or four goals ahead if it wasn’t for keeper Sam Tickle and some poor finishing.

Latics who are missing several players through injury, lost Jordan Jones to illness and Charlie Wyke due to his wife going into labour prior to kick off.

With seven academy graduates in the starting eleven they lacked cohesion and completely failed to threaten the Derby goal in the first half.

Callum McManaman and Jonny Smith replaced McHugh and Sze at half time and Latics were much better in the second half.

They pushed Derby back and gave them more of a game but without creating any clear-cut chances.

Humphrys had a half chance at the back post and McManaman found the side netting.

Latics are lacking a cutting edge at the current time. Humphrys and Lang were once again anonymous throughout and Sze had a disappointing first half.

Maloney needs to adjust his system so that we have players in the box. When Humphrys is allowed a roving role Latics often have no striker in the danger zone.

The manager may now be regretting his decision to allow striker Josh Stones to go on loan to Oldham Athletic.

At least Thelo Aasgaard made a return from injury in the second half and he may add some much needed creativity to the midfield going forward.

After three straight defeats Latics will be desperate to get back to winning ways against Carlisle United on Friday night.

Post match comments

Speaking afterwards, Maloney credited his players for their second-half display and expressed the importance of bouncing back in a few days’ time.

“It was miles better in the second half,” he said.

“I’ve said that a couple of times recently, but in this game, we had seven Academy boys in there.

“Derby are a very good team – very strong and very experienced – so I can’t fault the players. 

“The effort was there in the first half, and it was very difficult for them to have that many (Academy graduates) on the pitch.

“I asked too much of them in the first half, and it’ll be a big experience for them and me.

“We went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the league (in the second half), and it felt like a proper performance.

“We had more threat in the final third, and very different in the second half. The dynamic of the game changed, and I am reasonably pleased about that. We’ve got a massive game against Carlisle in a few days.”

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