Report by SJG

'THE ONLY WAY IS UP' AS WIGAN HIT ROCK BOTTOM

Latics produced a lack lustre display as they slumped to defeat against a Lincoln side who never really had to get out of first gear.

Wigan recalled John Curtis in defence with Whittle moving into midfield to replace McMullan who dropped to the bench.

Micky Quinn was added to the starting line up to replace Tony Quinn who was carrying a knock.

Wigan lined up with a back five as injuries to key players modified their ambitions but when Lincoln, smelling blood, piled on the early pressure it soon became a back ten as it was all hands to the pump to try and repel the twin striking threat of Cunningham and Harford.                                                    

The Wigan defences held firm for over half an hour and when they were finally breached it was totally self-inflicted.

Jeff Wright, normally so assured in his passing left a back pass short and HOBSON was quickly onto the ball and produced a fine lobbed shot that sailed over the stranded Brown and into the net.

Once behind Wigan rarely looked like getting back into the game as they looked ill-equipped to penetrate the Lincoln defences.

It was Gore who was to provide the main glimmers of hope for the travelling fans, and he did at least test the home keeper with a shot from distance.                                                

The home side, who were always happy to be physical should have taken the lead much earlier, but Brown produced a fantastic reflex save to deny Shipley.

Half Time: Lincoln City 1-0 Wigan Athletic

Brown came to Wigans recue again as the second half got underway, saving well to deny a Harford header and denying Hobson a second with a brave low stop.

However, the second goal could not be denied and when Shipleys header was cleared off the line by Fretwell it rebounded to the lurking CUNNINGHAM who rifled the ball home.

The game continued and it developed into a niggly affair that saw yellow cards for Neil Davids and Maurice Whittle as well as Tony Cunningham and Trevor Thompson for the hosts.

Full Time: Lincoln City 2-0 Wigan Athletic