• Wigan Athletic’s inability to finish proved costly as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers at the Brick Community Stadium.
• In a scrappy first half of few chances the Chairboys went ahead on 35 minutes from a quick counter attack, involving Ewan Henderson and Fred Onyedinma before Sam Bell finished.
• The hosts failed to hit the target in the first half with Paul Mullin heading wide and Christian Saydee firing wide.
• In the second half Latics dominated possession but they were unable to capitalise on their opportunities with substitute Dara Costelloe heading narrowly wide and then forcing a crucial save from Will Norris.
• Latics drop to 17th and the Chairboys rise to 19th place in the League One table.

Ryan Lowe made one change to his starting line-up from the draw with Plymouth last Saturday with Paul Mullin replacing Jensen Weir.

Latics had a couple of early half chances, first Saydee dragged an effort wide after being set-up by Murray, and then Mullin headed Steven Sessegnon’s cross wide of the target from a good position.

The hosts were enjoying plenty of possession without creating many chances and they fell behind on 35 minutes.

Following a quick counter attack, Bell finished Onyedinma’s low cross from the right to break the deadlock. 

Latics huffed and puffed but couldn’t breakdown a well drilled Chairboys rearguard.

Lowe made three changes at half-time to give his team more impetus. Callum Wright, Joe Hungbo, and Costelloe replacing Robinson, Raphael and Mullin.

The visitors threatened first as Tickle had to react quickly to deny Onyedinma’s near post strike.

At the other end Latics went close when Will Aimson found Hungbo down the left, and Costelloe was inches away from diverting his low cross into the net.

Costelloe had a good chance to equalise with just four minutes remaining. A clever flick from Murray fed Saydee, whose cross was glanced agonisingly wide of the target by Costelloe.

In added time Latics had their best chance to equalise but Costelloe was denied by an outstanding save from Norris and the visitors came away with the three points.

Port Vale at home next Saturday and Latics desperately need to get back to winning ways or the natives will become extremely restless.

Overview

This was another frustrating home performance which sees Latics slip further down the table.

Despite strong performances by Matt Smith and Fraser Murray the team are struggling to create many chances and when they do they lack a clinical finish.

Saydee, Mullin and Costelloe have only scored seven goals between them and they have not scored in five league and cup games. Only Murray with five goals has been able to score on a regular basis. 

Referee Andrew Humphries didn’t help Latics’ cause. He allowed Wycombe to constantly waste time and slow the game down. He seemed incapable of penalising the visitors gamesmanship and failed to add the correct amount of additional time in both the first and second half.

But ultimately Latics players and manager only have themselves to blame for not getting anything out of the game.

Lowe’s formation of 3-5-2 hasn’t been working and the manager seems unwilling to change. His comments after the game demonstrate that he is frustrated with his team but his tactics are surely part of the problem. 

Lowe may well have to adjust his wing back formation and play a back four as his team continues to look extremely vulnerable down the flanks.

Post match comments 

Afterwards Ryan Lowe said he was disappointed with his team.

“We’ve been done from a counter attack which is disappointing,” he told the media.

“It’s disappointing because we can stop the counter attack at the source. We tried to slide at the top end of the pitch to get the ball to one of our players, and Wycombe ran 80/90 yards to score.

“I am disappointed in that because people weren’t doing their jobs. It comes down to me as Head Coach. We’ve just had a discussion as staff that we have to keep going, and the players need to keep going as well. 

“For 20 minutes, we were excellent. We had three glorious chances and couldn’t put the ball into the back of the net. 

“It goes back to the saying that both boxes win you games. I wasn’t happy with the first half, which is why I made the changes.

“I can’t do it for the players, and neither can the coaching staff. They need to take some responsibility, and the standards need to be upped.

“You can’t become a team that is happy to lose or happy to concede when we are trying to please our fans. It’s not good enough, and we’ve got to make changes.

“The message to the players is change quickly or be changed. It’s as simple as that. 

“We’ve got a week to build up for the next one, and we’ve got to keep going.“

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