• Wigan Athletic were denied a deserved point on the road by a late Steven Fletcher winner for Wrexham.
• Latics had matched their high-flying hosts and had more possession and more shots but the hosts went ahead when Ryan Barnett’s strike was deflected past Sam Tickle on 60 minutes.
• The visitors drew level on 79 minutes when substitute Joe Hugill headed home from fellow substitute Silko-Thomas’ cross.
• Just when it looked like Latics would get a deserved draw substitute Fletcher controlled the ball on the edge of the box before volleying into the corner of the net.
• Latics drop to 16th place and Wrexham move up to second place in the League One table.

Shaun Maloney made two changes from the victory at Rotherham with Scott Smith and Michael Olakigbe replacing the injured Matt Smith, who he confirmed is out until March, and Silko Thomas in the starting line-up.

Latics started confidently as Olakigbe fed Baba Adeeko and he did well to cross low towards Dale Taylor, who was denied an opportunity by Eoghan O’Connell.

Latics enjoyed plenty of early possession inside the first 15 minutes but they failed to trouble Mark Howard.

Jonny Smith cut inside onto his left foot, but fired wide before Baba Adeeko had a great opportunity inside the box, but his effort was blocked by a defender.

Soon afterwards Latics lost Adeeko to an apparent hamstring injury and was replaced by Jensen Weir.

Paul Mullin had a free kick straight at Sam Tickle on 34 minutes and the keeper saved comfortably.

Olakigbe had an in swinging cross from the left which just evaded everyone at the back post. An impressive first half from the Tics.

At the start of the second half Thelo Aasgaard did well to turn his man and put in a dangerous cross which Wrexham’s Matty James diverted onto his own crossbar and substitute Weir couldn’t convert the rebound.

Aasgaard then fired just over from the edge of the box before a scare for Mark Howard, who completely missed his kick with Dale Taylor chasing him down.

From the resulting corner, Toby Sibbick so nearly managed to head home at the far post.

Wrexham then somewhat fortunately took the lead on the hour mark via a deflection as Barnett’s effort hit Will Aimson and found the bottom corner.

Latics worked hard for the equaliser and it came on 79 minutes when the two substitutes combined with Thomas crossing perfectly for Hugill to head home at the back post.

It looked like Latics would get a deserved point on the road but in the 90th minute they suffered heartache as substitute Fletcher volleyed into the bottom corner.

Overview 

Latics had produced another excellent away performance and deserved to take at least a point against their well funded hosts.

Wrexham are unbeaten at home and are looking to secure another promotion. Latics had controlled long periods of the game, produced some good chances but had failed to make their dominance count.

Captain Jason Kerr once again led by example producing a dominant defensive display. 

Referee Tim Nield didn’t do Latics any favours and seemed intent on giving the Wrexham players the benefit of the doubt.

Latics injury problems continue to increase with news that Matt Smith will be out until March and that Baba Adeeko suffered a hamstring injury during the game. 

The recruitment team will already have identified the players needed in the transfer window but the current crop of injuries to midfielders may mean that they will also have to recruit a midfielder.

The difficult fixtures continue to come quickly for Maloney’s injury hit squad with fourth placed Huddersfield at the Brick on New Year’s Day and first placed Birmingham at the Brick on January 4th.

Post match comments 

Speaking to Latics TV post-match, Maloney was disappointed to have left empty-handed following a largely positive performance. 

“I’m normally pretty honest, and I can’t say anything negative about the team,” he said.

“There were moments in both boxes that you can pick out, but the team was brilliant today and I couldn’t ask for anymore with or without the ball.

“It’s a tough one – you never want to accept getting beat, but if there is ever a way that you do, it’s playing like that. 

“We were dominant – and in fairness, they defended the final third well. The team we were playing against are a really good team, but our performance was very good.

“If we would’ve drawn 1-1, I would’ve been disappointed and I feel really disappointed for the players and supporters.

“I’m glad the players gave the fans the performance, but I’m really disappointed that I’m not standing here talking about us winning this game, but sometimes that happens. 

“The supporters were brilliant, and the players were really good. We know the level of investment of (Wrexham), and we outplayed them.”

Player ratings