Report by SJG

FRIENDLY

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

23^rd July 2022

FINAL DRESS-REHEARSAL SEES ‘TICS’ LOOKING “MATCH READY.”

Wigan Athletic concluded their pre-season preparations for the 2022/23 Sky Bet Championship campaign with a 4-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday afternoon.

Ben Heneghan had given the visitors an early lead, but goals from James McClean, Tom Naylor, Josh Magennis and Thelo Aasgaard helped Latics finish pre-season in style at the DW Stadium. 

Latics went into the game aiming to complete an unbeaten pre-season but were made to work hard against their Sky Bet League One opposition.

It was a fast start from Wednesday who took the lead after just four minutes. Barry Bannan whipped a corner from the right-hand side into the far post and found HENEGHAN whose deflected header was beyond the reach of Ben Amos and found the back of the net.

It was an impressive opening from Darren Moore’s side who were moving the ball well and nearly added to their lead three minutes later. Another dangerous Bannan delivery had Amos at full stretch to palm his corner out of the congested Latics’ penalty area before it could reach a Wednesday head.

After bouncing back from the visitors' early pressure, Latics had their first sighting on goal in the 14^th minute. After a tidy spell of possession, the ball was worked to Power who lined up a shot from 30 yards out but the central midfielder saw his effort fly over the crossbar.

Leam Richardson’s side was growing into the game and nearly equalised in the 18^th minute. Magennis did well to occupy the Wednesday defence which opened up space for McClean who seized on a ball in behind and tried an audacious chip over Stockdale but saw his effort fall narrowly wide of the post.

McClean was, however, not to be denied as he brought the game back level in the 22^nd minute. After great pressing from his teammates, MCCLEAN intercepted a short back pass to David Stockdale and rounded the keeper before tapping into the empty net.

It was a busy few minutes for McClean who moments later nearly gave Latics the lead. A cross from the right-hand side fell to McClean at the back post, his first effort was blocked but his second drew an excellent save from Stockdale who superbly palmed his shot wide of the near post.

After a frenetic first half an hour, the game began to settle down with both sides enjoying long spells of possession but unable to carve out any clear opportunities. There was time for one final chance before the interval, and it was Wednesday who went close to regaining the lead. A swift counter attack saw Bannan arrow an inch-perfect cross-field pass into the path of former Latics striker Josh Windass but under pressure from Curtis Tilt, he fired well wide of Amos’ far post.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday

In a rarity for a pre-season friendly, both sides resumed the second half unchanged and this time. it was Leam Richardson’s side that took the early lead. Six minutes into the second half, Power won a corner for Latics which McClean expertly crossed into the far post and found the unmarked NAYLOR. Naylor’s header looped beyond Stockdale and despite the best efforts of the Wednesday defender on the goal line, the flag was up from the linesman to signal Latics’ second goal of the afternoon.

The second half then settled into the same pace as the first, with both sides moving the ball well but unable to break each other down. It wasn’t until the 65^th minute that either side had another sight of goal and this time, it went in favour of the visitors. The space opened up for Bannan to shoot from the edge of the area but his left-footed effort curled narrowly wide of the far post to preserve Latics' lead.

The flow of the game was broken up by a succession of free kicks for both sides with Bannan nearly turning provider in the 71^st minute but Ihiekwe could only head his free kick over the crossbar.

The visitors continued to threaten through set pieces and after Dele-Bashiru’s mazy run to the edge of the box was cut short by a trip from Naylor, Windass stepped up to take the free kick but fired his effort comfortably wide of the far post.

Despite Wednesday's half chances, it was Richardson’s side that found the goal to settle the tie. McClean had space on the left-hand side and his pinpoint cross found MAGENNIS who headed home from inside the six-yard box to give Latics their third goal.

The goals hadn't stopped coming there, and Latics added a fourth on the stroke of full-time. Stephen Humphrys burst down the right-hand side and got in behind the Wednesday defence before cutting the ball back to AASGAARD who fired home from close range for the final goal of the game.

It was an excellent way to end Latics’ unbeaten pre-season with preparations complete ahead of the arrival of Preston North End and the start of the Championship season at the DW Stadium next Saturday afternoon.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 4-1 Sheffield Wednesday.

Scorers; McClean (22), Naylor (51), Magennis (80), Aasgaard (89); Heneghan (4);

Attendance; 3,500 (est)

WIGAN (5-2-2-1) -- Amos; Darikwa, Tilt, Whatmough, Bennett, McClean; Power, Naylor; Keane, Lang; Magennis; Subs; Kerr (for Tilt), Pearce (for McClean), Shinnie (for Naylor), Humphrys (for Lang), McGrath (for Keane), Jones, Carragher, Smith, Sze;

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (4-4-2) – Stockdale; Palmer, Heneghan, Iorfa, Gregory, Bannan, Windass, Byers, Dele-Bashiru, Johnson, Ihiekwe; Subs; Smith (for Gregory), Patterson (for Byers), Adenarin (for Dele-Bashiru), Dawson, Brown, Vaulks, Farnewu;

Referee; Not Known