• Wigan Athletic slipped to their first defeat in six games as Wimbledon got a last gasp winner to retain their League One status.
• Latics enjoyed the greater possession and had more shots but the visitors battled hard to stay in the game.
• The Dons best chance of the first half fell to Layton Stewart but Sam Tickle did superbly to come off his line quickly to block the strike.
• Latics huffed and puffed but struggled to create any clear cut chances.
• Just when it looked like the match would end in a stalemate the Dons struck in the 90th minute when substitute Antwoine Hackford converted fellow substitute Zack Nelson’s cross to secure safety for Wimbledon.
• Latics are now in 16th place and Wimbledon are in 18th place in the League One table with one game of the season remaining.

Caldwell made two changes to the starting lineup following the 0-0 draw with Port Vale, with Captain Jason Kerr replacing Morgan Fox, and Harrison Bettoni replacing Dara Costelloe.

Latics started confidently and controlled possession but without really threatening the Dons goal.

Joe Taylor did well by the touchline to evade a Dons defender but he was unceremoniously brought down when he looked to have broken free.

The hosts approach play was good but when they got to the final third they were unable to penetrate a resolute Dons defence.

In fact the best chance of the half fell to the visitors Stewart but Tickle did superbly to come off his line quickly to block the strike.

Latics continued to dominate possession in the second half but they were once again frustrated by the Dons dogged defence.

Wimbledon did threaten on the counterattack and Stewart appeared to be pulled down by James Carragher on the edge of the box but despite appeals from the visitors, referee Matt Corlett waved away appeals.

Latics continued to press for the breakthrough and Fraser Murray came close when he cut inside and produced a powerful strike towards the top corner but the ball just cleared the crossbar.

Soon afterwards Latics went even closer when the ball bounced around the box following numerous blocked efforts before Taylor’s final effort was blocked on the line.

Just when it looked like the match would end in a stalemate the Dons struck in the 90th minute when substitute Hackford converted fellow substitute Nelson’s cross to secure safety for Wimbledon.

The defeat put a bit of a damper on Latics’ post match celebrations and they will be hoping for an improved performance in their final league one fixture at Stevenage next Saturday.

Overview

This wasn’t how the last home game was supposed to end. 

Latics had been hoping that they would sign off their last home game with a celebratory victory to finish the campaign.

But relegation threatened Wimbledon had other ideas and spoiled the party. The visitors had been defensively solid and tenacious in their desire not to lose the game.

Ultimately they had scored a late winner with a rare attack in a game that Latics had dominated.

The Dons hard work and commitment had shown they just wanted the victory more than Latics.

Latics had lacked a cutting edge and this game demonstrated that if Taylor isn’t firing then goals are hard to come by.

This performance will have given Caldwell plenty of food for thought. It will have given the manager more insights into the type of player that will be needed for next season if Latics are to be successful.

It’s clear that goalscoring has been a problem for most of the season and if it wasn’t for the loan of Taylor Latics might now be contemplating life in League Two.

A goalscoring striker who can lead the line must surely be the priority for next season.

Post-match comments 

Afterwards Gary Caldwell spoke to the media.

“It was really disappointing in terms of the result.” He said.

“It was a frustrating game overall – we dominated possession. They came with a clear game plan and carried it out perfectly.

“We didn’t do enough – we didn’t play quickly enough, and didn’t hit the target enough. We had 16 shots, 10 corners and didn’t utilise them well enough to create problems.

“Ultimately, the longer the game went on, I could feel what was coming. We should’ve seen the game out for a 0-0 because when we can’t win like that, we cannot lose the game. 

“It was a big disappointment, but I am learning again about players and what we need to do as a team next season.

“Since we’ve been safe, part one is done, but there’s a big job to do in the summer to make sure that we have a much better team next season.

“The fans have been amazing. They have had a year which they do not want, and I have to make sure that next year they see a team they can be proud of, and hopefully when we play our last game here next season, there’s a much different feeling.”

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