Report by SJG

CHAMPIONSHIP

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 20^th June 2020

WIGAN RETURN TO ACTION AFTER COVID BREAK WITH A ‘BANG’

After the break from action due to COVID quarantine it was ‘Back to Business’ In the Sky Bet Championship for Paul Cook and his Latics side on Saturday afternoon, as goals from Jamal Lowe and Anthony Pilkington helped to earn a controlled 2-0 victory away at Huddersfield Town in the first of nine end of season fixtures following the restart of the 2019-20 campaign.

Lowe's improvised first half finish opened the scoring on 26 minutes, with Pilkington doubling the lead minutes after the second half restart, crafting a wonderful piece of skill in the box to find a way past his former club for 2-0.

The victory, more than three months on since Latics' last game, made it seven unbeaten and saw Cook's men move up to 17th in the table, with a fifth consecutive clean sheet.

With the large gap since Latics' last match due to the Covid-19 pandemic, time allowed returns from injury for Kieran Dowell, Danny Fox and Antonee Robinson.

Both sides could call up five substitutes from nine named on the bench as an amendment to EFL regulations, but Leon Balogun, Gary Roberts, Gavin Massey, Alex Dobre and Dujon Sterling all missed out through injury, whilst Chey Dunkley continues his rehab following a double leg break in February at Reading.

Following a period of applause to say thank you to the NHS and key workers for their efforts in the ongoing Coronavirus crisis, and both sets of players, staff and the officials taking the knee in solidarity to show that racism will never win, the game got under way at an eerily, but rightly, quiet John Smith's Stadium.

As the sides sounded each other out in the opening exchanges and tested each other's reactions after such a period without a game, Latics began to show their muscle and alertness, carving out the game's first clear chance when Nathan Byrne's cross for Kieffer Moore fell at the feet of the returning Everton loanee Dowell, but the attacking midfielder couldn't get a clear shot away.

Pilkington was next up in the area just minutes later, with the former Terrier darting into space in the area, only for his resulting effort to go straight at Jonas Lossl.

It didn't take too long for Latics to break the deadlock though, with Moore's cross from the right cleverly turned over the line by LOWE for his fourth goal of the season, as the wide forward improvised to push the ball across the line with his chest.

Huddersfield rarely threatened, but when they did, they had David Marshall standing in the way. The Scotland international pulled off an outstanding save in the 33rd minute, reacting well to Juninho Bacuna's awkward free kick delivery to push the ball behind for a corner.

Half Time; Huddersfield Town 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

Latics struck Huddersfield where it hurt at the start of the second period, with former Terrier Pilkington doubling the lead two minutes after the restart.

Lowe was involved again and will claim the assist, but it was PILKINGTON's control from the pass and pirouette to beat two defenders in the box that earns the praise, even if the finish took a deflection to deceive Lossl.

Lowe was impressive with his strength and running and almost grabbed his second of the game six minutes later, but his powerful effort from the right rippled the side netting.

Fitness levels were shining through for Latics and it aided in having a good grip on the tempo of the game, with only Harry Toffolo able to test Marshall's resolve in the second half, and that itself came with six minutes of normal time to play. It was another top save from Latics' keeper who earned his ninth clean sheet of the season as a result.

After a late triple change and six minutes of added time, the final whistle echoed around the empty stands, marking the perfect return to action for Latics.

Full Time; Huddersfield Town 0-2 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Lowe (26), Pilkington (48);

Attendance; BCD- Covid restrictions

Wigan Athletic --- (4-2-3-1) Marshall; Byrne, Kipre, Fox, Robinson; Morsy, Williams; Lowe, Dowell, Pilkington; Moore;

Subs: Jones, Macleod, Mlakar, Gelhardt, Garner (for Moore), Jacobs (for Pilkington), Evans (for Dowell), Naismith (for Fox), Pearce (for Robinson);

Huddersfield Town --- (4-2-3-1) Lossi; Toffolo, Schindler, Stearman, Simpson; Hogg, O’Brien; Willock, Smith-Rowe, Bacuna; Grant;

Subs: Coleman, Chalobah, Quaner, Daly, King (for Hogg), Duhaney (for Simpson), Stankovic (for Stearman), Pritchard (for Smith-Rowe), Kachunga (for O’Brien).

Referee; Mr. Jarred Gillett (Australia)