• Wigan Athletic suffered a heartbreaking injury-time 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City at St Andrews.
• Alfie May scored his fourth goal of the season to give the Blues an 18th minute lead.
• Latics deservedly equalised in the 66th minute when Thelo Aasgaard’s strike went under Blues goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
• The visitors went down to ten-men with 15 minutes remaining after using all five substitutes, when Steven Sessegnon had to be withdrawn with an injury.
• Birmingham sensed their opportunity and pressed forward and they broke Latics’ hearts when they went ahead through substitute Scott Wright on 91 minutes.
• Latics drop to 21st place and Birmingham are now in third place in the League One table.

Shaun Maloney named an unchanged starting XI from the victory over Crawley Town last Saturday.

Birmingham had the first attempt at goal as Ethan Laird had his shot blocked before Emil Hansson drove a low ball which Tickle did well to save down to his right.

Latics gradually got into the game and Matt Smith had a goal-bound effort blocked before Will Aimson made a good defensive interception robbing Alfie May.

Just when it looked as though Latics had settled into the game they were undone when Willum Willumsson played through May, who looked to be in an offside position. The flag stayed down and the prolific marksman finished past Tickle.

Aasgaard had a shot deflected straight at Peacock-Farrell. Tickle then produced a double save first denying Hansson then the follow up from Willumsson.

Probably Latics best chance of the half fell to Aasgaard. 

As in the Crawley game last week Chambers crossed from the right for Aasgaard and the young Norwegian U21 international’s header was goal-bound but this time Peacock-Farrell palmed the ball away.

Latics started the second half on the front foot. Chambers crossed for Rankine at the back post. His first time goal-bound effort was deflected just wide.

Substitute Steven Sessegnon found Rankine down the right and he crossed for Aimson, but unfortunately his header was right at Peacock-Farrell.

Rankine was involved again, but fired straight at Peacock-Farrell before at the other end Jason Kerr blocked a goal-bound Birmingham strike with his head.

After exerting pressure Latics got their reward on 66 minutes when Matt Smith found Aasgaard and his shot from the edge of the box went under the legs of Peacock-Farrell.

Matt Smith then had a great chance to put Maloney’s men ahead, but he dragged his shot wide after some good build up play.

Maloney introduced new signing Jensen Weir for his second Club debut, whilst loan signing Dale Taylor also came on for his first Latics appearance, but the team were in serious trouble with 15 minutes remaining when Sessegnon left the field due to injury and all five substitutions had been used.

Birmingham were looking to make the extra man count as they sensed the opportunity.

Latics dropped deeper into defence but the pressure just increased and Birmingham broke Latics’ hearts in the 91st minute as Wright fired into the roof of the net as the defence failed to clear.

Aasgaard had a chance in the dying moments, but his shot was blocked by Christoph Klarer and Birmingham took the three points.

It was a painful experience for the ten-men of Latics who had played well enough to take at least a point.

Overview 

Latics were so unlucky to come away from St Andrews without a point after matching their well-funded opponents for most of the game.

Maloney’s new squad showed a big improvement against Birmingham compared to their last away performance at Reading.

Birmingham who are favourites for promotion have spent £30m in the summer transfer window, which is an unprecedented figure for League One, but Latics had matched them until they went down to ten-men.

After Aasgaard’s equaliser it looked possible that Latics could go on to win the game. But following Sessegnon’s injury and going down to 10-men they lost their impetus and were forced into defence for the remaining 25 minutes.

It was an unfortunate error by Maloney to use all of his substitutes with over 20 minutes of normal time still remaining. It is to be hoped that he will learn from his mistake and avoid doing the same in the future.

Post match comments

Speaking afterwards to the media, Maloney was naturally hurting, but he felt encouraged by what he saw from his side against one of the best sides in the division. 

“To come here and play the way that we did – what our lads did today was unbelievable,” he said.

“There was a 10-minute period where we had to hang in and suffer, but in the first 20 minutes, and the second half, we were brilliant. 

“Sometimes in football, it can hurt, a I’m nd today hurts. Up until going down to ten men after 75 minutes, they were amazing.

“(Going down to ten men) changed the dynamic of the game. We had made all the subs, as I needed to finish the game with the same intensity. 

“We were on top and played through them, so this one hurts. Today, I couldn’t be any prouder of the team, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt more disappointed (to not come away with anything). 

“Our fans were brilliant today, and they added to the atmosphere. It felt like a proper football match, so credit to Birmingham. It was a brilliant match but a painful one at the end.”

For the Latics Manager reflecting post-game, one famous phrase of the Football Club was echoed by Maloney, who wants both the players and fans to believe in the exciting rebuild that is taking place. 

“I need more belief. If we perform like we did today throughout the season, we’ve got a chance to do something special. 

“What I have to drum in – to not only the players but to the fans – and I know it’s a saying of ours, but we have to have belief in where we are going. 

“We are going to have good days and bad days, as we are in the second stage of rebuilding this Club. I hope our fans are really proud of what they saw today.”

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