Callum Chambers scored his first goal for Latics. Photo by Bernard Platt

• Wigan Athletic spoiled the League One champions Portsmouth’s promotion party with a deserved 2-1 victory at Fratton Park.
• Latics went ahead in the 22nd minute when Liverpool loanee Luke Chambers scored his first goal for the club.
• The visitors had further chances to increase their lead but they did increase their advantage on 83 minutes when substitute Josh Magennis outmuscled a defender before firing through the legs of Will Norris.
• Pompey pulled a goal back on 85 minutes when substitute Kusini Yengi followed up after Colby Bishop’s effort came back off the crossbar.
• Latics England U21 international goalkeeper Sam Tickle pulled off some fine saves to keep out the hosts as they pressed for an equaliser and the visitors held on for the three points.
• Latics move up to 13th place in the table and Portsmouth are promoted as champions.

Shaun Maloney made two changes to his starting XI following the victory at Lincoln City last Saturday as Liam Morrison and Luke Chambers replaced Jason Kerr and Tom Pearce.

There was a good atmosphere at Fratton Park with a 20,000 plus crowd as Portsmouth had been crowned League One champions in midweek.

There was a great opportunity for Pompey on six minutes when a loose back pass from Steven Sessegnon sent Bishop in the clear with Tickle off his line. But Bishop fired his effort well wide from 40 yards out.

Latics went came close in the 12th minute when Jonny Smith cut in from the right and fired a shot at goal from the edge of the box which beat keeper Will Norris, but struck the post and the ball bounced away.

The visitors were dominating possession and took a deserved lead on 22 minutes through Chambers’ first goal for the club.

Jonny Smith crossed from the right to Thelo Aasgaard whose header back across goal found Baba Adeeko, he laid the ball to Chambers who took a touch and fired low into the corner.

Latics continued to dominate possession and they threatened when Matt Smith found Chambers and the Liverpool loanee fed Martial Godo, but Sean Raggett intercepted before Godo could get his shot away.

Chambers then had a great chance to double Latics’ lead four minutes before half-time,  when Charlie Kelman’s shot at goal was pushed away by Norris and Chambers could only fire the rebound into the side netting.

Pompey made two substitutions at half-time with Paddy Lane and Myles Peart-Harris replacing former Latic Callum Lang and Abu Kamara. The changes had boosted the hosts and they went close when Lane’s effort deflected wide off Chambers.

At the other end Chambers crossed for Adeeko whose header was blocked by Connor Ogilvie with just the goalkeeper to beat.

Maloney made a tactical substitution on 56 minutes with Tom Pearce replacing Jonny Smith and Latics moving to a back five.

Josh Magennis and Chris Sze replaced Kelman and Godo on 66 minutes.

Soon afterwards Pearce fed Magennis down the left, but keeper Norris denied the Northern International’s shot.

Sean Raggett then tested Tickle from distance with the keeper beating the ball away and easily saving Joe Rafferty’s headed rebound.

Tickle came to Latics’ rescue again on 78 minutes as he did superbly to divert Marlon Pack’s curling strike away before somehow denying Rafferty with his feet with the rebound.

Latics looked to have put the game beyond any doubt seven minutes from the end as Sze nodded the ball on to Magennis who outmuscled a defender before slotting the ball home through the legs of Norris.

But with five minutes of normal time remaining Portsmouth pulled a goal back as Pack’s effort came back off the crossbar, but Yengi followed up to tap home.

Pack and substitute Scott Smith were then involved in a scuffle as both sets of coaching staff got involved.

Pompey were now pushing strongly for the equaliser and the visitors were having to defend resolutely.

Tickle’s man of the match performance was confirmed when he somehow denied Pompey in added time with a superb save low to his left from a Myles Peart-Harris header.

In the eight minutes of added time Latics looked like they had added a third goal but Aasgaard could only find the side netting. 

Overall a satisfying performance by Latics against the League One champions on their own ground.

Overview

This result was a well earned reward for the 500 plus Latics supporters who had made the long trip to the South coast.

A performance that does augur well for next season. Latics had ended the League One champions 17-game unbeaten run and showed that this team has huge potential.

For the most part they were the better side, although to be fair the hosts had been celebrating promotion in midweek.

Roberto Martinez initiated a style of play at the club and Maloney has now developed that style amongst his Academy players and loanees and this type of passing football is now well embedded within the club.

Going forward Latics are likely to lose some of their big earners in the close season which should free up some resources to recruit new players.

If only Maloney can keep hold of his Academy stars Tickle, Hughes and Aasgaard and retain the services of loanees Chambers, Morrison and Godo, re-sign Kerr and sign a goalscorer they will be in a very strong position to challenge for promotion next season.

Post match comments

Speaking afterwards to the media, Maloney felt his side’s first-half display was the best 45 minutes of the 2023/24 campaign, and he was over the moon to send the 526 travelling Tics home happy. 

“The first half was probably the best we’ve played all season against a very good side,” Maloney said.

“We were brilliant in the first half and should’ve been more than one-nil up, and then the game became very different.

“The last 20 minutes – we had to hang in, and there were two sides to the performance. 

“The first half – the way that we played – that’s the best we’ve played all season.

“Portsmouth wanted 100 points, and they are a 17-game unbeaten run, and we wanted to win this game. We can be as good as any team, and some of the football today was so good in that first half.”

“I’m so happy that we won, as it’s a long way for them to travel. I say it every week but for me, for my players and the Club in general, they mean a lot to me. I am really glad I can give them moments like today.” 

Magennis marked his 500th career league appearance with the match-winning goal, and Maloney was full of praise for the Latics skipper. 

“Josh came on, and the two centre-backs struggled to deal with his physicality. He showed speed, and power and his brilliant finish won us the game.”

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