Latics goal scorers Thelo Aasgaard and Stephen Humphrys. Photo by Bernard Platt

• It was a case of ‘After the Lord Mayor’s Show’ as Wigan Athletic succumbed to a disappointing 4-2 defeat at Fleetwood Town.
• Latics had beaten promotion-chasing Bolton in midweek but showed their lack of consistency when they were undone by a relegation-threatened Cod Army on Saturday.
• The hosts took the lead on 15 minutes as Bosun Lawal played a one-two with Jayden Stockley and volleyed past Sam Tickle, but Latics drew level within two minutes when Stephen Humphrys, cut inside and fired a low drive into the far corner from the edge of the box.
• The visitors were ahead on 26 minutes when Martial Godo crossed for Thelo Aasgaard to head home but the hosts regained parity when Lawal produced a fine individual strike into the far corner on 36 minutes.
• Fleetwood started the second half strongly and they went ahead on 54 minutes when Gavin Kilkenny’s strike from 25-yards struck Aasgaard and looped over Tickle.
• The hosts added a fourth goal on 61 minutes when Ryan Broom’s cross from the right found Stockley who nipped in front of his marker to head the ball into the net.
• Latics remain in 13th place and Fleetwood in 23rd place in the League One table.

Manager Shaun Maloney made three changes from the team that had defeated Bolton with Sean Clare, Martial Godo and Stephen Humphrys replacing Scott Smith, Callum McManaman and Josh Magennis.

Latics started on the front foot as Luke Chambers crossed for Humphrys. The striker’s header was blocked and cleared before Clare fired the rebound towards goal which rebounded into the hands of Jay Lynch.

Humphrys and Godo then combined down the right to send another dangerous cross into the box which was cleared.

Despite starting so well Latics went behind on 15 minutes when Lawal played a one-two with Stockley and superbly volleyed into the corner of the net.

Latics responded inside two minutes and were level through Humphrys. Matt Smith won the ball in midfield and found Humphrys, who drove forward, cut inside and fired a low drive into the far corner from the edge of the box.

The visitors were in the ascendancy and they went ahead on 26 minutes when Godo crossed for Aasgaard to head home at the near post.

Two minutes later and the hosts came close to a leveller as Elijah Campbell headed just wide following a corner from the left. But Fleetwood were not to be denied as eight minutes later Lawal grabbed his second goal with an impressive individual strike.

Lawal did well to pick the ball up on the edge of the box, and skilfully touch the ball past a couple of  defenders before slotting the ball into the far corner of the net. 

2-2 at half-time.

The conditions were deteriorating at the start of the second half and Latics started sluggishly on a difficult pitch.

The Cod Army went ahead on 54 minutes when a corner came to Kilkenny on the edge of the box and his effort from 25-yards struck Aasgaard and unluckily looped over Tickle.

The hosts were now well on top and they had a goal from Brendan Wiredu disallowed following a push inside the box following a corner.

Latics’ passing was going astray and they just couldn’t build any momentum in the difficult conditions. 

Fleetwood added fourth goal on 61 minutes as Broom’s cross from the right found Stockley who nipped in front of his marker to head the ball into the net.

A frustrated Maloney made four changes on 63 minutes with Jordan Jones, Josh Magennis, Scott Smith and Callum McManaman replacing Jason Kerr, Humphrys, Matt Smith and Jonny Smith.

Latics nearly pulled a goal back when Aasgaard smashed an effort against the crossbar on 65 minutes but it was a rare attack from the visitors in a poor second half display.

Fleetwood could easily have added further goals, first when Promise Omochere charged down a Tickle kick and the ball fortunately flew just wide of the post, and then on the counter attack in added time, but he scuffed his effort wide.

A disappointing display by Latics who once again showed their inconsistency against supposedly inferior opposition.

Overview

Latics’ fans came to the Fylde Coast with high expectations after the midweek victory against Bolton but they were left disappointed with a below par performance against a team who are likely to be relegated.

To compound matters it was Latics’ first ever league defeat to Fleetwood Town.

They started well enough with Humphrys and Assgaard scoring well worked goals but things quickly turned sour as the impressive Lawal was twice able to stroll through the backline.

They were a little unlucky to go behind to a deflected third goal from Kilkenny, but the Cod Army could easily have scored more than the four they netted.

Latics problem this season has been consistency. They can be brilliant one week and terrible the next. Even within games they have the ability to be good in one half and poor in the next. Having recorded victories against many of the top sides, they have also lost against many of the strugglers.

It has to be remembered that this team had to be put together at short notice with Academy players, free transfers and loan signings. They started the season on minus eight points and could have faced a relegation struggle. Maloney and Gregor Rioch have had a lot to contend with, and a mid-table finish, which is likely, is still quite an achievement for the club.

Next season with the right backing from owner Mike Danson, they can push on by adding some extra quality and experience.  

I’m still convinced Maloney and Rioch are the right people to lead the club going forward.

Post match comments

Speaking afterwards to the media, Maloney was disappointed after a difficult day on the Fylde Coast. 

“Everything that we had on Tuesday night – in terms of intensity – dropped,” he said. 

“We dropped our levels today, and it ended up being a really tough day.

“In this game, I wouldn’t put it down to mentality as there was an effort. I was worried before the game about how much energy we had, and if we can have the same intensity against Bolton, but we didn’t.

“I gave the players massive credit on Tuesday and this was a really big game. I asked some of them to go again, and the levels were just a little bit below.

“However much today hurt, I still can’t be overly critical. It was a really difficult day and there are moments we can do much better in. 

“I have to stay calm. They were immense on Tuesday but our levels dropped.”

Over 1,100 Latics supporters packed out the away end at the Highbury Stadium and Maloney expressed he, his staff and his players will continue to work hard to replicate the same feeling from Tuesday’s Derby Day victory.

“They are amazing. I’m sorry I couldn’t give them more feelings like I gave them on Tuesday but I’ll try and change that over the coming days.

“I know it’s tough so I appreciate the support.”

Player ratings

Player ratings courtesy of Whoscored.com