Matt Smith scores his first goal for Latics

• Wigan Athletic returned to winning ways with a narrow 1-0 victory at Shrewsbury Town.
• Latics started strongly and had early opportunities to go ahead with Martial Godo and Sean Clare going close.
• Shrewsbury had a goal disallowed for offside in the first half and they went close early in the second half when Aaron Pierre’s header produced a fine save from Sam Tickle.
• Latics went ahead on 57 minutes when former Arsenal midfielder Matt Smith scored his first goal for the club following a corner.
• The hosts had a sustained period of pressure forcing six corners, numerous crosses and shots in 11 minutes of stoppage time, but the visitors held firm.
• Latics move up to 13th and Shrewsbury remain in 19th place in the League One table.

Shaun Maloney made two changes following the defeat to Oxford United in midweek as Jason Kerr replaced the injured Charlie Goode and captain Josh Magennis came in for Charlie Kelman who dropped to the bench.

Latics started on the front foot as Jordan Jones won a corner before Baba Adeeko’s cross was collected by former Latics keeper Marko Marosi.

The visitors had a big opportunity after five minutes as Luke Chambers drove into the box and fed Martial Godo, whose low shot was tipped wide by Marosi and Sean Clare showed a lack of composure by blazing his strike high and wide.

Clare had a couple of further efforts at goal. The first hit the side netting from a narrow angle, before he later volleyed over from the edge of the box.

Godo had another chance as Matt Smith played him through but a Shrewsbury defender got back in time to get a touch on the ball to deny the goal scoring opportunity.

The Shrews had a goal disallowed on 24 minutes when Tom Bloxham poked the ball home from close range but the linesman had his flag raised for offside.

The hosts started to have more possession and from a corner former Latic Tom Bayliss’ near post header was narrowly wide of Tickle’s far post.

The Shrews had a great chance at the start of the second half when Pierre’s header looked to have put them ahead but Tickle made a vital diving save to keep the scores level and Kerr did well to get his body in the way of the rebound.

Ten minutes later Latics went ahead. An in-swinging corner from Jones was only partially headed out and the former Arsenal midfielder Matt Smith was there to smash the ball high into the net.

Tickle once again had to be alert as he had to push Mal Benning’s shot wide of the post.

Maloney made substitutions on 70 and 72 minutes with Stephen Humphrys, Jonny Smith and Scott Smith replacing Magennis, Matt Smith and Godo.

Latics might have sealed the three points on 86 minutes when a defensive mistake allowed Jonny Smith to set up Aasgaard but the young Norwegian’s shot was straight at Marosi.

Then at the other end another former Latic Chey Dunkley’s header was deflected narrowly wide when it looked destined to find the net. Kerr then did well to save Latics again with another headed clearance.

The Shrews were peppering shots at the Latics goal but fortunately they were either blocked or missed the target.

A ridiculous 11 minutes was added at the end of the game as Latics struggled to get out of defence.

The Shrews forced a succession of corners and Latics had to defend valiantly to keep out the hosts.

Ultimately it was a valuable three points for Latics which keeps them eight points above the relegation zone.

League One Table

Overview

Latics had managed to secure the three points but this was a far from convincing performance.

They once again played well during periods in the game but they were under a lot of pressure in the second half and could easily have been pegged back.

The Shrews peppered the Tics goal in the final quarter, forcing 13 corners overall and six corners in the 11 minutes of added time.

Jason Kerr made an impressive return to the defence and Sam Tickle was the Man of the Match making some very important saves to deny the hosts.

Maloney said afterwards, “I loved every bit of that ending of the game.”

Latics’ fans probably didn’t enjoy those 11 minutes of added time quite as much as Maloney as the team were desperately hanging on for the three points.

It is commendable that Latics’ players put their bodies on the line and defended so well, but they had retreated deeper into defence and were unable to keep possession to manage out the game.

They will have to be much better at keeping possession when under pressure with tricky home games coming up against in-form Cheltenham and Bolton.

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Speaking afterwards to the media, Maloney praised the mentality of his players after they gave everything for each other and the Football Club at the Croud Meadow.

“In the first half, we did a lot of things right with the ball without being as intense as I would’ve liked,” he said.

“It flipped in the second half, and you saw that we scored a goal and started to hang in. We had to show a different mentality, one we haven’t shown recently, and I thought the players were brilliant.

“There were some amazing blocks to stop shots going towards our goal. I heard the fans – and when 11 minutes went up, they started singing. Everyone deserved that today.

“Sometimes they are even more pleasing. I get more pleasure out of watching a team put their bodies on the line for their Club and for their teammates, and they did that today. I loved every bit of that ending of the game.”

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