• Wigan Athletic were left to rue their missed chances as they were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.
• The Hatters went ahead after only eight minutes when George Saville converted a low cross by Liam Walsh.
• Latics might have been level soon afterwards when Will Aimson fired narrowly wide and Paul Mullin had a golden chance to equalise on 24 minutes but he could only hit keeper Josh Keeley’s legs.
• At the other end Sam Tickle saved with his legs from Jordan Clark before Aimson poked the ball against the Hatters crossbar on 28 minutes.
• Keeley came to Luton’s rescue again on the stroke of half-time when he produced a superb reaction save to deny Latics captain Jason Kerr from close range.
• The Hatters enjoyed the majority of possession in the second half and Tickle made a good save from Millenic Alli and substitute Lasse Nordas struck a post.
• In the final seconds of added time Latics had a great opportunity to equalise when goalkeeper Tickle went up for a corner but he steered his shot wide of the target from a good position and Luton held on for the three points.
• Latics slip to 13th and Luton move up to 6th place in the League One table.

Latics manager Ryan Lowe surprisingly made five changes from the starting line-up that had defeated Peterborough United at the weekend. Luke Robinson, Baba Adeeko, Tobias Brenan, Jensen Weir, and Paul Mullin replaced Tyrese Francois, Joe Hungbo, Fraser Murray, Dara Costelloe and Christian Saydee.

The visitors were behind after only eight minutes as they failed to properly defend a Luton corner routine. Walsh delivered a low cross and Saville swept the ball home from eight yards out.

Lowe’s men responded and went close when Weir played the ball to Aimson on the edge of the box and the centre-back powered a low drive just inches wide of the far post.

Latics should’ve been level ten minutes later when Ryan Trevitt played a superb through ball to Mullin, who was one-on-one with Keeley, but the on-loan striker could only fire against the legs of the advancing keeper.

In an end to end first half the visitors continued to be the most likely to score and from a Trevitt corner Kerr headed over at the back post.

Clark forced a save from Tickle with his legs on 26 minutes and Aimson poked the ball against the Hatters crossbar two minutes later.

Weir’s cross then found the head of Callum Wright, whose header was well-saved by Keeley.

Just before half-time Man of the Match Keeley came to the Hatters rescue again when he produced a superb reaction save to deny Kerr from close range.

Asamoah Junior replaced Brenan at half -time as Latics looked to get level, but it was the hosts who first threatened when Clark drove forward and fired wide of the target.

Soon afterwards Tickle had to make a good diving save from Alli.

Saydee and Costelloe replaced Mullin and Callum Wright on 73 minutes as the visitors tried to get back into the game. However, Luton continued to dominate possession and substitute Nordas struck a post with Tickle beaten on 87 minutes.

Jonny Smith and Joe Hungbo replaced Weir and Robison as Lowe rolled a late dice.

Asamoah Junior drove an effort wide of the Luton goal before Aimson headed off the Latics goal-line and Alli had another shot from distance saved by Tickle.

Latics pressed forward in four minutes of added time with Jonny Smith’s dangerous deep cross thwarted at the back post by a Luton defender.

From the resulting corner Latics had a great opportunity to equalise when the ball fell to Tickle in the box but the goalkeeper steered his shot wide of the target from a good position and Luton held on for the three points.

Overview

Ryan Lowe had surprised everyone by making five changes to the starting line-up that had defeated Peterborough. On paper it looked like a defensive line-up with the lone striker being Paul Mullin. Strikers Saydee, Costelloe and Hungbo were on the bench and Fraser Murray was absent, presumably due to an injury/illness.

It was a calculated gamble that ultimately didn’t pay off. Luton enjoyed the greater possession but Latics generally limited their chances and the defence was once again very good apart from the early lapse for the goal.

Latics created plenty of goalscoring opportunities and really should’ve got something from the game. Mullin, Aimson, Kerr and goalkeeper Tickle had excellent opportunities and if it was not for the heroics of Luton keeper Keeley it would’ve have been a victory for the visitors.

With the games coming thick and fast manager Lowe probably wanted to rest some of his players but also try to frustrate one of the promotion favourites on their home turf. It didn’t quite come off on this occasion.

I’m expecting a more attacking line-up for the early kick off at Rotherham United on Saturday as Lowe shuffles his pack again.

Post match comments

Afterwards Ryan Lowe was pleased with how his side competed against the former Premier League outfit.

“I’m proud of the boys for everything they did,” he told the media.

“We’ve had a few niggles – and a drama with an illness with one of the players in hospital all night.

“We’re not making excuses, but we had to field a team that we thought could compete, and have loads of energy. 

“I felt like we did that – the goal we conceded is a scruffy one on our behalf. It’s not what we want, of course, but I can’t fault the lads.

“They stuck to the game plan. Luton were in the Premier League two years ago, and they’ve still got some Premiership and Championship players who shouldn’t be in this division. 

“For us to have held our own against a good team is really pleasing. I am proud of the boys – they gave us everything. 

“We threw everything at the game and made changes to try and get a result. I can’t fault the boys – I am really proud of them.

“It was a massive step (in the right direction) from the last time we were in these necks of the woods against Leyton Orient. 

“We can’t win them all – it’s disappointing, but we’ll have to pick ourselves up, and we’ve got another important away game on Saturday.”

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