Charlie Hughes scored a spectacular 110th minute volley

• Charlie Hughes scored a spectacular 110th minute winner to give Wigan Athletic the three points in a dour game against Wycombe Wanderers.
• At a windswept DW Stadium both teams struggled for any cohesion or a cutting edge.
• The most notable incident occurred in the second half when Referee Adam Herczeg was caught in a collision and had to be replaced by the fourth official Steven Rushton, and a volunteer from the crowd acted as fourth official after a 20 minute delay.
• Wycombe had a goal disallowed soon after the restart when Luke Leahy’s shot deflected in off Kieran Sadlier who was in an offside position.
• Steven Sessegnon then had a great opportunity for Latics but he fired wide of the target.
• In added Wycombe nearly broke the deadlock when a long ball was flicked on and Richard Kone’s shot needed a point blank save from Tickle to keep the score level.
• With a stalemate looking likely Hughes popped up in the box to score the latest ever EFL goal on record with a superb volley.
• Latics move up to 11th and the Chairboys remain in 17th place in the League One table.

Shaun Maloney made three changes from Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Reading, with new loan signing Charlie Goode coming in for his Latics debut, alongside Stephen Humphrys and Charlie Wyke.

Latics had an early opportunity when Jordan Jones delivered a dangerous cross into the box, which just evaded Charlie Wyke.

Jones was soon involved again with another ball in from the left, but the ball just drifted over the crossbar and behind for a Wycombe goal-kick.

Just short of the half hour mark, Liverpool loanee Luke Chambers tried his luck, firing wide from 25 yards.

Gareth McCleary almost got on the end of a Wycombe through ball before Jones cut inside from the left and fired straight at Max Stryjek.

A scrappy and generally uneventful first half ended with the score at 0-0.

Just 10 minutes into the second half, the most notable incident of the game occurred when Referee Adam Herczeg was caught in a collision and had to be replaced by the fourth official Steven Rushton, and a volunteer from the crowd acted as fourth official after a 20 minute delay.

Wycombe had a goal disallowed soon after the restart when Luke Leahy’s shot deflected in off Kieran Sadlier who was in an offside position.

Latics retreated deeper into defence and the Chairboys continued to push forward and Tickle gathered Ryan Tafazoli’s shot from the edge of the box before Latics best chance of the game fell to Steven Sessegnon.

Hughes played a superb through ball to Sessegnon, but he fired his shot wide of the target from the right side of the box.

As the game headed into the 11th minute of added time the visitors had a big chance to win it.

A free kick was met by Richard Kone, but Tickle did superbly by blocking his effort from point-blank range before the ball rebounded off the substitute and drifted wide.

At the other end, Matt Smith had a shot from distance deflect just wide.

Then, in the 20th minute of added time Hughes broke the deadlock. 

A cross from substitute Callum McManaman found Hughes at the back post and the Latics captain produced a superb volley to score an historic latest ever EFL goal.

Overview

This was a dour game and a very hard watch for most of the 113 minutes.

When chances did occur both teams lacked a cutting edge. Humphrys was once again disappointing and Wyke struggled to make an impact. Jones had a good game down the left hand side and provided the Tics biggest threat going forward.

It was frustrating that Martial Godo was injured as he can make a huge difference at this level.

Latics build up play was often pedestrian and at times frustrating. Maloney wants his players to stay patient but it was a frustrating watch for the fans.

The hosts retreated further into defence in the extended second half and as against Reading they could easily have lost if Wycombe had been more ruthless and Tickle had not made some excellent saves.

The Tics defenders were once again excellent with Charlie Goode having a good debut and Hughes once again outstanding. The young Latics captain and England U20 international produced a superb finish to win the game and he is surely destined for great things.

Maloney will desperately want to keep the winning run going on Saturday but Stevenage will probably provide a much stiffer test than either Reading or Wycombe. 

League Table

Post match comments

Speaking afterwards to the media, Maloney praised the players for their performance on the night and finding a way past an extremely resolute Wycombe side. 

“It is a huge win for us again,” he said.

“After the Reading victory, we had to go again, and it was a difficult match. We tried to be as creative as we could and control the ball, and Wycombe are really dangerous.

“We had to try and keep the ball, and the credit goes to the players. I thought the players were brilliant and they persevered. 

“I’ve been involved at this Club where we’ve had games like this, and I thought the players and fans were brilliant.

“I know the fans have to stay patient and a lot understand the DNA we are trying to bring back. 

“Sometimes we get it right in the final third, sometimes we don’t. I heard the fans supporting us when we really needed them, and I thought the players were brilliant tonight in a difficult match.”

Player ratings

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