• Wigan Athletic slipped back into the relegation zone after a 3-0 defeat to in form Plymouth Argyle at the Brick Community Stadium.
• Joe Taylor nearly gave Latics an early lead when he fired over after a brilliant mazey run had outwitted the Pilgrims’ defence.
• The visitors went ahead on 38 minutes when goalkeeper Sam Tickle dropped the ball at the feet of Bim Pepple who forced the ball home from close range.
• Two minutes later Pepple doubled the lead from 15 yards as Latics defence went to sleep.
• Latics were denied a clear penalty in the second half when Taylor’s strike on goal was diverted away by a defender.
• Soon afterwards Argyle added a third with Latics defence at sixes and sevens, Caleb Watts finished from 12 yards on 71 minutes. 
• The hosts were completely out of luck on 83 minutes when Taylor’s strike beat the goalkeeper, but came back off the crossbar.
• Latics are now in 21st place and Argyle are now in 10th place in the League One table.

Gary Caldwell made three changes to the team that drew at Blackpool with Matt Smith, Callum McManaman and Luke Robinson replacing Raphael, Llyton Chapman and the ineligible Callum Wright.

After a slow opening to the game the visitors threatened first when Alex Mitchell found himself free inside the box, but he headed his effort wide of the post from ten yards out.

Soon afterwards Taylor so nearly gave Latics an early lead lead when he fired over after a brilliant mazey run had outwitted the Pilgrims defence.

Disaster struck Latics on 38 minutes when following a free-kick goalkeeper Tickle uncharacteristically dropped the ball at the feet of Pepple who forced the ball home from close range.

Two minutes later Pepple doubled the lead from 15 yards as Latics defence went to sleep.

Malachi Boateng broke down the right, before rolling the ball into the path of Pepple, who finished a close-range strike into the top corner.

Caldwell made changes at half time with Joe Hungbo and Harrison Bettoni replacing Smith and McManaman.

Bettoni threatened on the hour when forced save out of Luca Ashby-Hammond when his free-kick was parried away for a corner.

Latics were denied a clear penalty in the second half when Taylor’s strike on goal was diverted away by a defender.

Soon afterwards Argyle added a third goal with Latics defence at sixes and sevens. Some chaotic defending resulted in Fraser Murray diverting the ball onto the post, before it eventually fell to Watts, who finished into bottom corner from 12 yards out.

Substitute Caylan Vickers set up Taylor in the dying minutes but his strike beat the goalkeeper, but came back off the crossbar.

It was just not to be Latics or Taylor’s night, on another occasion the on-loan striker might’ve had a hat-trick.

Overview

This was a very disappointing performance by Latics against a strong and forceful Argyle team.

Latics appeared disjointed from the kick off with Caldwell clearly agitated with his players from the touch line.

The changes the Head Coach had made, some enforced and some tactical, had not been beneficial.

The ineligible Callum Wright and the injured Morgan Fox and James Carragher were notable absentees as Latics struggled against Tom Cleverley’s powerful Pilgrims.

Christian Saydee continues to disappoint as a striker and the only bright light was the performance of Joe Taylor.

Taylor was a big threat throughout and on another night he might’ve had a hat-trick. 

The hosts were also unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Taylor’s strike was clearly handled by a defender.

Latics must now quickly regroup and hope to bounce back against Bradford City at the Brick on Saturday.

Post-match comments 

Afterwards Caldwell spoke to the media and said “It was a really frustrating game – and a poor performance overall.”

“We didn’t get going in that first half. I just said to the players that we win together, and we lose together, and that we all take responsibility.

“As the Head Coach, I pick the team, and we have to get back to the drawing board. 

“We knew this game was going to be difficult, and it’s a bump in the road that we have to recover from quickly because we are back here on Saturday.

“We need to look in the mirror, learn from the game, and come back stronger and ready to win a game of football on Saturday.”

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