Report by SJG

CHAMPIONSHIP

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs STOKE CITY

 30^th June 2020

SUPER - KAL LEADS THE WAY AS POTTERS HUMBLED.

Latics' impressive return to Sky Bet Championship action continued on Tuesday evening, with an inspired and dominant 3-0 victory over Stoke City at the DW Stadium to go nine unbeaten, with three consecutive clean sheets, as Kal Naismith stole the show from the bench with a double, although the second will certainly be the headline maker.

Kieran Dowell squeezed in the opener five minutes before the break after a superb team display in the first half, but it was Naismith's arrival from the bench that will be talked about, tapping in his first on the line, before a rasping left footed strike sealed the points three minutes later.

Latics made two changes to the side that secured 2-0 victories over Huddersfield Town and Blackburn Rovers, with Saturday's second goal scorer Michael Jacobs drafted in for Anthony Pilkington, whilst Leon Balogun replaced Danny Fox in defence.

Paul Cook's side created 15 chances throughout the 90 minutes, the first of which came just four minutes into the first half, when Kieffer Moore was denied by Jack Butland after an initial poor clearance from the Stoke stopper.

Two minutes later and Jamal Lowe showed his strength on the right touchline to breeze past two Stoke defenders, but his drive towards goal would only find the side-netting.

It was three chances within the opening 10 minutes when Nathan Byrne's low cross was almost turned in by Kieffer Moore, in the exact same finish he scored those delightful finishes at Cardiff City and Reading, alas the connection wasn't there this time.

David Marshall, who kept his seventh clean sheet in a row by the end of the game, was called into action for the first time in the 14th minute, cleverly denying Sam Vokes' header from a free kick.

Latics just continued to mount the pressure and add to the tally of opportunities, the next coming from Joe Williams' free kick aimed at the top right corner, but Butland proved smart enough to tip it over the bar.

Next up to test the Potters' keeper was Samy Morsy, the captain looking for one of his trademark long distance goals, but he could only sting Butland's palms with his fierce effort. Unfortunately for the returning Jacobs, his night only lasted 32 minutes due to injury and Kal Naismith was sent on as his replacement.

Five minutes from the break, Latics took a much-deserved lead. After smart build-up play, DOWELL gathered the ball on the right by-line and with players piling into the box he backed himself, driving his low shot off Ryan Shawcross and straight through the legs of a helpless Butland.

And it almost got even better in the first half, when Naismith chested a high ball down and volleyed left footed from 30 yards, just Butland's reactions stopping a sure-fire goal of the season. Dowell then threatened to get a second for himself, but a powerful effort sailed past the top right corner.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Stoke City.

Latics turned on the style in the second half grabbing two goals in three second half minutes, the first ridiculous, the second sublime. Jamal Lowe has re-emerged from lockdown with real power and confidence, and he'll take the credit for the second, although Butland had a big hand to play. Lowe's clever play on the right and clipped cross was fumbled onto the under-side of the bar by Butland, allowing NAISMITH to simply tap the ball over the line unchallenged for 2-0.

Then came the goal of the game and arguably the goal of the month for Latics, as NAISMITH collected Byrne's cut back on the right edge of the area, before stepping into the box to hammer home a third goal and wrap up all three points.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 3-0 Stoke City.

Scorers; Dowell (40), Naismith (65), (68);

Attendance; BCD- Covid restrictions

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

Subs: Jones, Fox, Pearce, Mlakar, Gelhardt (for Williams), Massey (for Lowe), Evans (for Dowell), Naismith (for Jacobs), Garner (for Moore);

Stoke City :-  (4-2-3-1) Butland; Ward, Batth, Shawcross, Collins; Cousins, Thompson; Ince, McClean, Clucas; Vokes;

Subs: Smith (for Shawcross), Martins Indi (for Ward), Campbell (for Ince), Gregory (for Thompson), Chester (for Collins), Davies, Diouf, Oakley-Boothe, Sorensen.

Referee; Mr. Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire)