• In a game of poor quality Wigan Athletic defeated Burton Albion 1-0 at the Brick Community Stadium.
• Neither team really threatened until the 41st minute when Christian Saydee drilled a shot across goal and the ball hit Paul Mullin and Terence Vancooten before finding the back of the net.
• The Brewers were much improved in the second half and went close when substitute Dylan Williams’ corner was headed just beyond the far post by Jake Beesley.
• Later a Beesley toe poke looped over goalkeeper Sam Tickle and came back off the crossbar.
• Tickle came to Latics rescue in the closing stages making fine saves to deny both Kyran Lofthouse and Vancooten.
• The hosts extended their unbeaten run to eight games but it was a far from impressive victory.
• Latics move up to 11th and the Brewers are now in 19th place in the League One table.

Ryan Lowe made two changes from the draw with Stevenage at the weekend with Matt Smith and Mullin replacing Tyrese Francois and Callum Wright.

Lowe employed three strikers for the fixture with Mullin partnered with Dara Costelloe and Christian Saydee being deployed in an attacking midfield position.

Latics controlled possession in the opening period but were unable to create any clear-cut opportunities.

Latics’ first real opportunity came when Raphael drove into the area. The on-loan Coventry City winger curling his strike just wide of the post.

Latics made the breakthrough somewhat fortuitously when Saydee drilled an effort from the right across the six-yard box and the ball hit Mullin and Vancooten before finding the back of the net. 

The hosts again struggled to create much in the second half and as the half progressed the visitors started to assert themselves.

The Brewers went close in the 70th minute when substitute Williams found Beesley with a corner and he headed narrowly wide.

Another Beesley effort came bank off the crossbar as Latics rode their luck.

The hosts were now retreating further into defence and unable to keep possession. The visitors sensed an opportunity to get something from the game.

Tickle had to come to the Tics rescue on two occasions. Having pushed a Kyran Lofthouse strike away, the Latics keeper somehow managed to tip over Vancooten’s curling strike.

Latics held on for the three points but it was a far from impressive victory. 

They will have to show a marked improvement if they are to progress in the FA Cup on Saturday when they take on Barrow in a Second Round tie at the Brick.

Overview 

This was a disappointing performance by Latics against a team who were low in confidence and had been defeated 4-0 at home by Leyton Orient on Saturday. 

Latics used three strikers in the starting line-up but they struggled throughout to create chances. Had it not been for Tickle’s two outstanding saves and the Brewers missed opportunities they could easily have lost the game.

Graham Barrow has suggested there was sickness in the camp prior to the game and this meant Callum Wright was unavailable and that others may have been affected.

Whether this was a contributing factor in this lacklustre performance is hard to say but it was definitely an unsatisfactory display by the hosts.

On the positive side Latics are now eight games undefeated, have moved into the top half of the table and are only three points off a playoff spot.

Post match comments 

Club Ambassador Graham Barrow spoke to the media afterwards and explained that there was a sickness bug in the Latics camp and it had affected some players and the coaching staff.

Barrow believes that Latics are growing as a group and are building momentum ahead of the hectic festive period.

“We took it as a two-game block – including this game and the Stevenage game – and after getting those points away from home, we wanted to build on that.

“Stevenage came here and made it hard for us, and I thought ironically we played better than what we did tonight and got the point, but got the three points tonight.

“It’s much easier now in football with the modern tactics to stop teams playing, and we are learning to deal with that.

“We feel very strongly that we are growing as a team, and that things are coming together.

“We took ourselves near the top ten tonight, and if we win on Saturday, we can go into the New Year with a lot of hope.

“We aren’t completely happy with the performance tonight, obviously – the win was more important. 

“Everyone is working really hard behind the scenes – from the technical staff to the coaching staff – and the players are as good a group as we’ve had here. 

“We are a strong group, and we will get it right. It’s not always been pretty, but we want to improve and feel like we are improving.

“We came up against an experienced manager tonight, who set up his team to make it really difficult for us. We got over the line, and that’s the most important thing.

“We understand people’s feelings, and appreciate the people who did come tonight, and stayed till the end.

“They got their just rewards. It’s only just over two years since I was on holiday that summer, and Shaun Maloney said we are out of business tomorrow morning. 

“This is a brand new project – I was here when Dave Whelan bought the Club, and it feels a little bit like that at the moment.

“That took a little bit of time, and we just need to be a bit more patient. Stick with the lads, and what’s going on – there is a plan in place, and this is just the start of it.”

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