• Wigan Athletic were narrowly defeated 2-1 by play-off chasing Reading at the Brick Community Stadium.
• Reading had the better of the first half with a Lewis Wing free-kick forcing a good save from Sam Tickle, who later denied Andre Garcia at point-blank range.
• Harvey Knibbs then went close when his shot took a deflection off Jason Kerr, but only landed on the roof of the net.
• Tyler Bindin forced another good save from Tickle before Latics’ best opportunity came when Jonny Smith’s goal bound shot was superbly tipped over by Joel Pereira.
• Latics did take the lead on 59 minutes when Jonny Smith’s corner was headed home by Kerr at the back post.
• The Royals were soon back in the game and Charlie Savage’s cross was finished by Jayden Wareham on 71 minutes.
• Latics just couldn’t manage out the game and with five minutes remaining they were unable to clear a corner and Bindon fired into the roof of the net from close range.
• Latics drop to 15th place and Reading are in ninth place in the League One table.

Shaun Maloney named an unchanged starting line-up and bench for the visit of Reading.

The visitors threatened early on when Lewis Wing fired a low drive towards Tickle’s bottom corner but the Latics stopper Tickle tipped it around the post.

Andre Garcia volleyed an effort from point-blank range but Tickle superbly denied him.

The Royals continued to look dangerous and Harvey Knibbs had a shot deflected onto the roof of the net before Tyler Bindon drew another good save from Tickle. 

Ronan Darcy tried his luck from a 35 yard free kick which was too high before Jonny Smith forced Pereira’s first save of the game two minutes before half-time.

Kerr did well to win the ball high up and feed Jonny Smith who cut inside and curled a strike which was destined for the top corner but Pereira did superbly to tip over the crossbar.

Jonny Smith had the first shot on target in the second half, cutting in from the right again, but straight at Pereira.

A Jonny Smith free-kick from the left then so nearly found its way to the feet of Jon Mellish, but the ball deflected off him and behind for a goal kick.

Latics did take the lead on 59 minutes when Jonny Smith’s corner was headed home by Kerr at the back post.

But on 71 minutes the Royals equalised as substitute Jensen Weir failed to clear and Savage found Wareham who finished from close range.

It was now important that Latics should stay composed and manage out the game but Reading went all out for the winner.

The visitors hit the crossbar from a corner with six minutes remaining before Knibbs was denied by Tickle from close range.

Latics looked rattled and from the resulting corner a scramble occurred and Bindon fired into the roof of the net from close range.

A disastrous end to the game for Latics.

Overview

Latics had been the better team against Huddersfield in midweek but they were second best against Reading.

The visitors had looked dangerous throughout the first half and they could easily have been two or three ahead before half-time.

Against the run of play Latics had gone ahead but they were unable to hang on and manage out the remaining 20 minutes of the game.

Overall Noel Hunt’s players had looked more determined, were quicker to the ball and they were composed in possession.

The Royals had enjoyed 56 per cent possession and had 19 shots compared to Latics seven.

Reading deserve praise for this performance and the fact that they are pushing for the playoffs despite all their off-field problems.

The club has been on the verge of extinction for a long time, but this week the club entered a period of exclusivity with a prospective buyer.

It is the fifth time talks over a takeover have reached this stage, but hopefully this time the takeover can go through and the club can have some stability.

Maloney’s men will need to be much improved when they take on Mansfield Town at the One Call Stadium on Tuesday night.

League Table

Post match comments 

Speaking post-game to the media, Maloney was honest with his assessment of the game.

“The result is probably fair,” he said.

“I don’t think we deserved anything from the game. We have been so inconsistent this season but I really didn’t like the first half.

“It was miles away from what we wanted, both without and without the ball. I’m really disappointed today – and we got what we deserved.

“I know we’ve been inconsistent – but today, the performance was miles away from what we need.

“Every game is tough. When you come into a game and expect to win, and you’re not willing to put in what you did against Huddersfield, you’re going to get hurt.

“We started slightly better in the second half. At the point we went 1-0 up, we weren’t dominant and there wasn’t much in the game at that point.

“The first half disappointed me. It was really slow, wasn’t aggressive and we were wasteful for the play – which was the complete opposite. That’s on me. I have to try and change that.

“We took a couple of steps forward and we then got hit again. We have to go again. If we show what we showed four days ago, we can beat anyone.

“We’re still in a position where we have first halves like this and I have to solve it. It can’t keep happening.”

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