• Wigan Athletic’s new Head Coach Gary Caldwell got off to a fine start as his team defeated Luton Town 1-0 at the Brick Community Stadium.
• Neither side created many opportunities in an evenly fought first half although the visitors Kasey Palmer curled a free-kick which forced an impressive save from Sam Tickle.
• Latics were much improved in the second half and they threatened when Morgan Fox and Joe Taylor forced good saves from the Hatters goalkeeper Josh Keeley.
• The hosts deservedly went ahead on 73 minutes when substitute Dara Costelloe fed Taylor, who produced a composed finish over the onrushing Keeley.
• Latics nearly doubled their lead when substitute Joseph Hungbo’s superb cross found Costelloe but his effort cleared the bar from four yards out.
• In the seventh minute of added time it looked as though Luton would equalise when they rained shots on the Latics goal but two goalline clearances by Fox and Will Aimson secured the hosts a first victory in eight games to move them out of the relegation zone.
• Latics are now in 20th place and the Hatters are in ninth place in the League One table.

Gary Caldwell made one change from Sunday’s Emirates FA Cup defeat at Arsenal with Jack Hunt replaced by Christian Saydee.

Neither side gained the upper hand in the early stages.

The visitors went closest when Palmer stepped up to a free-kick after Isaiah Jones was brought down outside the 18-yard box, but Tickle pulled off an impressive save diving to his right.

Latics had a rare opportunity in the first half when Callum Wright burst forward and cut the ball back for Jensen Weir, but his strike was saved comfortably by Keeley. 

Latics were much improved in the second half. 

On 55 minutes Jensen Weir was brought down and from the resulting 30-yard free-kick Morgan Fox forced an impressive save from Keeley diving across to his right.

Latics were playing higher up the pitch now and closing down their opponents much more quickly.

They were looking more of threat going forward and Taylor fired an effort towards Keeley’s near post but the goalkeeper was equal to it.

Latics made the breakthrough in the 73rd minute when Murray won a header to find Costelloe who drove at the Luton defence before feeding Taylor who ran into the area and then chipped the ball over the onrushing Keeley. 

Luton then went close to equalising when Jordan Clark fired towards the top right corner of Tickle’s goal but it was narrowly wide of the target.

In added time substitute Hungbo produced a superb cross for the sliding Costelloe, but the striker could only lift the ball over the crossbar from close range.

In the seventh minute of added time it looked as though Luton would equalise when they rained shots on the Latics goal but two goalline clearances by Fox and Will Aimson secured the hosts a first victory in eight games to move them out of the relegation zone.

Overview

Latics’ fans have been hoping for a new manager bounce with the appointment of Gary Caldwell and it was secured with a hard-fought performance against play-off chasing Luton.

Caldwell and his coaching team have only had a couple of days to work with the players but the improvement in work-rate, determination and organisation was for all to see.

The players have been low in confidence under Ryan Lowe but it appears the new Head Coach is already having a big impact.

Latics have moved out of the relegation zone but they must continue the improvement if they are to pull away from the bottom four.

Latics have a difficult game at play-off chasing Stockport County on Saturday but with Caldwell and his new coaching team in post the future looks much more promising for the club.

Post-match comments

Afterwards Caldwell spoke to the media and emphasised the importance of the win for the supporters, and his pride in the application and quality on display, particularly in the second half at the Brick Community Stadium.

“Incredible. A night for the supporters, they haven’t seen their team win enough this season, and they’ve seen their team really fight and give everything tonight to win the game. 

“I thought in the first half, they were a bit tentative in how we played, but very organised, we didn’t give them (Luton) many opportunities, and second half, I thought we were by far the better team. 

“We played really aggressively. We passed forward, we ran forward, we sustained attacks very well, and kept the ball in their half. Got a deserved goal and could’ve scored more in that period. 

“The last ten minutes, it was all hands on deck, everyone defending the goal, and keeping the ball out of the net. Really delighted for the team, it’s brilliant for them. They deserve that for how they’ve been since I’ve come in the building, and it’s something for us to build on now.” 

Caldwell emphasised how pleased he was with his side’s determination and fight to secure the victory after a tense finish in injury time.

“That was the desire, the character that you need to win games at this level. I thought we deserved that. We were the better team throughout the whole game overall, and we deserved that at the end. 

That attitude and mentality as a team will go a long way.”

The Head Coach was keen to praise his team’s attacking application and was pleased his men were able to produce a decisive moment of real quality in the final third that secured an important three points.

“I thought our press was very good tonight. There were moments in the first half, we didn’t quite tidy the ball and pass forward quickly enough. 

When we did in that instance, Dara’s (Costelloe) pass and his decision to pass, his quality of pass, and the quality of finish were sensational. 

That’s where you want Joe Taylor, in front of the goal. If we get him in that situation, he will score a lot of goals.”

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