• Managerless Wigan Athletic produced an unconvincing performance to defeat relegation threatened Cambridge United 1-0 at the Brick Community Stadium.

• In an evenly contested first half Cambridge should’ve gone ahead when Dom Ballard was one-on-one with Sam Tickle by the Latics keeper managed to save with his leg.
• Latics defended resolutely throughout with the back four and keeper Tickle keeping their team in the game.
• The hosts main threat came from winger Jonny Smith who forced a good save from Nathan Bishop and later fired narrowly wide of the top corner on the hour mark. 
• On 77 minutes Smith set up Baba Adeeko whose strike was spilled by Cambridge keeper Bishop and substitute Luke Robinson followed up to score his first senior goal for the club.
• Cambridge pushed for a late equaliser but Latics held firm and denied the visitors any clear-cut chances.
• Latics remain in 15th place and Cambridge in 23rd place in the League One table.

Interim boss Glenn Whelan made three changes from the midweek draw at Mansfield Town, with Luke Chambers returning from a long-term injury. Adeeko returned in midfield, while Jonny Smith came in for Owen Dale.

Latics had an early chance as Chambers crossed for Adeeko who nodded the ball down for Taylor to volley at goal, but his effort into the ground was saved by Bishop.

At the other end Ballard was denied by Tickle when played in before Josh Stokes’ follow up flew wide.

Tickle was in fine form and he came to Latics rescue on the half hour mark as Ballard raced down the left, and was through on goal and fired a goal-bound shot which Tickle somehow saved with his leg.

James Carragher then drove forward and got in behind the Cambridge defence and fired across a low cross to the back post, but Dale Taylor couldn’t quite make contact at the far post.

The visitors started the second half strongly as James Brophy fired over the crossbar following a corner which fell to him on the edge of the box.

Jonny Smith forced a good low save from Bishop on the counterattack and soon afterwards he found space on the edge of the Cambridge box and cut inside, but his effort curled just wide of the top corner.

Latics got the breakthrough from an unlikely source as Adeeko’s shot from distance was spilled by Bishop and substitute Robinson did well to follow it in and score his first senior goal for the club.

Cambridge pushed for a late equaliser and forced several corners but Latics held firm and denied the visitors any clear-cut chances. 

A nervy game for the fans but a crucial three points for Latics in the fight to stay above the drop zone.

Overview

This was an unconvincing performance by Latics as they tried to come to terms with the surprise departure of Shaun Maloney.

They once again struggled to create much forward momentum and apart from Jonny Smith they struggled to threaten the Cambridge goal.

If it was not for the hosts strong defending and the heroics of keeper Tickle the visitors might’ve taken the three points.

Interim boss Glenn Whelan has done well to shuffle his playing pack and make changes in formation to freshen things up, but you do have to wonder what the Board were thinking going into such an important phase of the season. 

It could so easily have gone so badly wrong against Mansfield and Cambridge but fortunately Latics have emerged relatively unscathed.

However the urgent recruitment of a new manager should now be top priority for the Board as they look to re-establish some stability at the club.

Latics are now 10 points above fourth bottom Burton but with difficult away games against Charlton and Burton upcoming there’s no room for complacency.

League Table

Post match comments

Speaking to media, Interim boss Glenn Whelan paid tribute to the players who showed grit, character, and determination to send their home supporters home happy. 

“The result was the most important thing today rather than the performance,” he said.

“It’s been a tough few weeks with the amount of games, and there’s loads we can improve on but the gut and determination from the lads was really pleasing.

“We got another clean sheet and managed to get the win which is the most pleasing thing. 

“We’ve taken four points from our last two games. At the moment, there’s been a bit of a cloud at home.

“Today it wasn’t about the performance and playing well, it was about giving these fans something to cheer about.

“They stayed in their numbers and we won the game. Hopefully, next time the fans come back home, we can be better again.”

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