Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs NORTHAMPTON TOWN

 2^nd August 2025

DREAM START FOR THE NEW SEASON AS WIGAN HIT GOAL TRAIL

It was an afternoon to saviour, remember, and cherish at The Brick Community Stadium, as Wigan Athletic began the 2025/26 Sky Bet League One campaign with an emphatic victory. 

A debut brace from new signing Fraser Murray, as well as Jensen Weir's first goal for the club, gave Latics the well-deserved three points.

Emotions were running high inside The Brick Community Stadium as the Tics fans welcomed their players back home for the first time in the 2025/26 season.

The cheers of "Blue and White Army" rang out around the stands at kick-off, reinforcing the feel good factor within the stadium..

Tickle - who was named in the Sky Bet League One Team of the Season last term - started in goal, and was protected by a back three of Steven Sessegnon, Captain Jason Kerr, and the Future Fund Player of the Year James Carragher. On the back of his summer move from Kilmarnock, Murray came in at wing-back for his debut, with Joe Hungbo occupying the other channel. Wigan Athletic Academy graduate Tobias Brenan was rewarded for a fine pre-season with his Sky Bet League One debut, and was joined in the engine room by Weir and Tyrese Francois, with the latter making his first competitive appearance since November 2024. There were also debuts for Christian Saydee and Dara Costelloe, who arrived from Portsmouth and Burnley respectively, and have impressed in Latics’ five warm-up fixtures.

Latics took a while to settle into the game and had an early scare when a mishit cross looped over Tickle and bounced clear via the crossbar.

It was the very impressive Saydee who had Latics' first real chance of the half, getting on the end of a Carragher ball from the halfway line. Lee Burge did well to come deep into the box and snuff out the attack.

The visitors asked the question just past the 10-minute mark, with a dipping free kick that floated into the box. As the cross bounced between feet, Tickle stayed cool and collected the loose ball to keep Latics out of trouble.

After bossing the engine room in the opening minutes, Murray had a crack at goal himself, cutting in from the right and striking the ball with power. Although the shot was well-saved by Burge, it allowed the winger to showcase his attacking potential.

Wigan Athletic were now running proceedings and their high tempo game paid off as after 29 minutes, Latics took the lead. Murray was rewarded for his hard work, opening his Latics account with a deft volleyed finish. Hungbo whipped in a cross and the number seven got in-front of his marker and cushioned a neat volley that gave Burge little chance.

Northampton attacker Cameron McGeehan then came close for the visitors, his close-range header striking the outside of the post, but Tickle was well placed and may well have saved if the effort had been on target.

Murray was inches away from doubling the lead after his edge-of-the-box free-kick, following a foul on Saydee, was nudged wide. The fans didn't have long to wait for another chance, though, as Latics made it two from the resulting corner. Hungbo again provided the assist with WEIR pouncing on his cross and flashing home a near post header.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 2-0 Northampton Town.

If Northampton were planning a fast start in the second period their plans were quickly quashed as seconds after the restart, MURRAY made it three. Sloppy defending allowed Saydee to cause problems in the Northampton back line and when a weak clearance fell to Murray he checked inside onto his left foot and unleashed a strike that took a deflection on the way into the back of the net.

Wigan briefly looked like running riot as Northampton looked all at sea in defence but the visitors gradually cleared their heads and tried to find a response. Captain Kerr came to the rescue after a Northampton ball made its way into the box, putting his body on the line to slide the ball out of play.

Newcomer Ryan Trevitt, signed from Brentford on a season long loan on the previous evening, entered the fray in exchange for Brenan, who showed plenty of promising signs during his professional debut. Another new signing made his debut during the second half, with Isaac Mabaya, signed on loan from Liverpool, replacing the Hungbo.

Northampton pulled a goal back after the break in play, with Michael FORBES, a loan signing from West Ham United, taking advantage of a deep corner and outmuscling Mabaya to head past Tickle.

Tickle was called into action again after Northampton broke into the Tics' box, making a crucial double save to keep the attack at bay as Northampton pushed forward in search of a second goal.

Wigan found more space as Northampton now had to commit bodies into attack, Costelloe made a strong surging run that was only ended with a cynical challenge, then Carragher perhaps should have done better when he got on the end of another Murray free kick but his header was straight at the keeper.

Costelloe headed a point black header wide when he really should have opened his account for the season then after good link play from Trevitt and Mullin the Wrexham loanee fluffed his lines and fired tamely at the keeper when at full stretch.

Latics comfortably held for all three points, starting the campaign in style.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 3-1 Northampton Town.

Scorers; Murray (29), (46), Weir (43); Forbes (70);

Attendance; 9,471

Wigan Athletic (3-5-2) --- Tickle; Carragher, Kerr, Sessegnon; Murray, Francois, Weir, Brenan, Hungbo; Saydee, Costelloe; Subs--- Watson, Wright, Mabaya (for Hungbo), Mullin (for Saydee), Asamoah (for Costelloe), Trevitt (for Brenan), Mellish (for Sessegnon);

Northampton Town (3-4-3) ---- Burge; Thorniley, Forbes, Wormleighton; Burroughs, Campbell, Perkins, Fornah; McGeehan, Wheatley, Hoskins; Subs— McCarthy (for Perkins), List (for Wormleighton), Willis (for Forbes), Dyche (for Thorniley), Fitzsimons, Baldwin, Tomlinson;

Referee; Mr. Alex Chilowicz (U.S.A)