• Wigan Athletic dented Blackpool’s play-off prospects with a narrow 1-0 victory at the DW Stadium.
• Latics went ahead in the 26th minute when Jordan Jones’ inviting cross from the left found Scott Smith who forced ball over the line at the back post.
• Latics goalkeeper Sam Tickle, who had recently been called up to the England U21 squad, made a good diving save to deny substitute Shayne Lavery as Blackpool tried to respond.
• In the second half Stephen Humphrys should have sealed the points for the hosts when he volleyed wide from a great position on 64 minutes.
• The visitors went closest to an equaliser when former Latic Kyle Joseph headed narrowly wide on 77 minutes and one minute from the end when he headed over from a great position inside the six-yard box.
• Latics had defended resolutely and they had secured the three points which moved them into the top half of the table and effectively guarantees another season in League One.
• Latics move up to 11th place and Blackpool drop to ninth place in the league table.

Manager Shaun Maloney made four changes to his line up following the midweek defeat to Wycombe Wanderers. With Jason Kerr, Matt Smith, Jordan Jones and Martial Godo replacing Josh Magennis, Jonny Smith, Liam Morrison and Charlie Goode.

Latics started brightly and Humphrys and Scott Smith combined inside the first five minutes, but Smith was denied a shot at goal by a covering Blackpool defender.

The next chance fell to Thelo Aasgaard who leapt highest at the back post to head Jones’ corner inches wide of the post.

The visitors lost top scorer top scorer Jordan Rhodes to injury on 19 minutes and he was replaced by Lavery.

In the 26th minute Latics went ahead. Jones whipped in an inviting cross from the left which evaded Aasgaard but went to the back post and Smith forced the ball over the line.

The Tangerines looked to respond as first George Byers shot was saved by Tickle before soon afterwards substitute Lavery’s effort from distance was deflected and the Tics keeper did well to save.

The visitors dominated possession at the beginning of the second half and Latics retreated into defence but Tickle was relatively untroubled.

At the other end, Latics had a glorious opportunity as Godo floated a clever pass for Humphrys in a great position but his strike on the volley was narrowly wide.

Byers then fired over from the edge of the box over the crossbar.

Lavery then threatened on 71 minutes as he picked the ball up and drove through the Latics defence, but his shot could only find the side netting.

Substitute Joseph almost drew the visitors level when headed narrowly wide following a cross from the right.

Latics threatened on the counter attack as Jones cut inside and fed Aasgaard, but his effort drifted wide of the target.

The Tangerines final chance came a minute before the end as Matt Virtue crossed for Joseph, but the striker headed over from inside the six-yard box.

Maloney’s men had had to defend for much of the second half but they held out for the three points and in the process seriously dented Blackpool’s play-off ambitions.

Overview

This was a pleasing victory for Maloney’s men as they avenged the defeat at Bloomfield Road earlier in the season.

The Tangerines had been on a good run and were pushing for the play-offs, so it was a satisfying result after the disappointing result at Wycombe in midweek.

Latics have now reached the 50 point mark which effectively guarantees another season in League One. To achieve safety so early after all the problems of the close season and after an eight point deduction is a remarkable achievement.

In fact if they had not been deducted eight points they would now be challenging for a play-off spot.

The first half injury to Jordan Rhodes had certainly damaged Blackpool’s chances of winning the game, but Latics had been the better team in the first half and they had coped well with the visitors pressure in the second half.

The whole team had defended resolutely throughout but Charlie Hughes and Jason Kerr were in particularly fine form in the centre of defence.

Local boy Scott Smith had perhaps his best game for Latics in an unusual role for him down the right hand side and he managed to get the vital winning goal.

Latics Academy players have stepped up this season and made a huge impact so the signs for next season are very promising.

If owner Mike Danson is able to back Maloney in the transfer market Latics prospects will be even better.

Post match comments

Speaking afterwards to the media, Maloney praised his players: “It was a huge three points. This was a big game for us,” he said.

“We have spoken all season about trying to stay in this league, so it was a big game for us. All credit has to go to the players, I thought they were brilliant.

“The first half was a really good performance with the ball. That’s as high of a level that we can play at the moment and the players were very good. In the second half, all credit to the players they had to work very hard to defend the lead. 

“I really liked it, Blackpool are very good at pressing you. If you get that wrong, you can give up big chances and that was the challenge to the players; they had to play under big pressure today, and they did.”

The Manager reserved special mention for Scott Smith after his first professional goal secured the victory.

“It’s a brilliant day for him. I asked him to play a really different position today and he had to defend in a wide area, but I had to try and use him as a midfielder when we had it. I thought he (Scott Smith) and Stephen Humphrys were very good down that right side,” he continued.

“Scotty is everything you want as a manager. He trains the way that he plays, every day he’s on it, and he deserves everything he gets.

“He was down in Torquay and wasn’t playing when I came in. With the work that he’s put in, he deserved a moment like today. I can’t speak highly enough of Scotty.”

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