Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

LUTON TOWN vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 19^th August 2025

CHANCES WASTED AS BATTLING TICS FALL TO DEFEAT.

Despite a performance full of significant scoring opportunities, Wigan Athletic left Luton Town empty-handed on Tuesday evening. 

Latics more than held their own against the former Premier League outfit, creating a plethora of chances on the night, but unfortunately George Saville's ninth minute strike turned out to be the only goal in the Sky Bet League One encounter. 

Ryan Lowe's side travelled to Kenilworth Road for their first midweek away fixture of the 2025/26 season, looking to build on last week's victories against Notts County and Peterborough United in the Carabao Cup and Sky Bet League One, respectively.

The manager opted to freshen his side up after their triumph over Peterborough last weekend, making a total of five changes. Luke Robinson, Baba Adeeko, Tobias Brenan, Jensen Weir, and Paul Mullin all came into the starting line-up at Kenilworth Road, replacing Tyrese Francois, Joe Hungbo, Fraser Murray, Dara Costelloe and Christian Saydee.

Luton began brightly and the home side took the lead after just nine minutes, with Saville finding the far corner. Liam Walsh did well to keep the ball in at the corner flag before driving past his marker and he was allowed far too much time which allowed him to deliver a quality curling cross into the box where SAVILLE lay in wait. The attacker timed his run to perfection and volleyed home giving Tickle no chance.

Despite what seemed a negative line up with Mullin the only recognised striker Wigan looked lively and defender Will Aimson had a long range shot after running onto a Jensen Weir pass on the edge of the box. The shot flew just wide, but the build-up, with attacking players coming from deep positions, looked to trouble the Luton back line.

Latics continued to attack the Town goal and continued to ask the question with the hopes of forcing a Luton defensive mistake. Ryan Trevitt freed Paul Mullin in behind the Luton defence with a well-timed ball, but the Wrexham-loanee rushed his finish and saw his strike bounce to safety off the Town keeper’s legs.

Then, following a Wigan corner kick Will Aimson was only inches away from levelling the scoring after Josh Keeley spilled the ball on his goal line, with his hurried hooked effort looping onto the underside of the crossbar. Another ‘powder puff’ Luton attack broke down and Latics quickly broke on the counter-attack with Weir's long-range curling cross finding the head of Callum Wright, whose header was well-saved by Keeley as he flung himself full length to palm the ball away. Latics survived a strong penalty appeal when Luke Robinson was adjudged to have made a crucial sliding tackle to deny Luton their second, knocking the ball out of play for a corner that ultimately came to nothing.

On the stroke of half-time, Latics almost got the goal their efforts merited. The corner ball dipped low into the box, pinging between legs before falling to Jason Kerr, whose powerful strike forced Keeley into making a fine crucial reflex save.

Half Time; Luton Town 1-0 Wigan Athletic.

Ryan Lowe made one change at half time, with Brenan, who had picked up an early yellow card, making way for Asamoah. The Latics' speedster made an instant impact, running into space down the right, throwing his body on the line to keep the ball in play and fizz a dangerous low cross into the Luton box.

Sam Tickle was then called into action twice in quick succession, setting himself well to parry away Millenic Alli's swerving strike and then punching away another long-range effort.

Latics, who looked less of a goal threat after the break came strong in the latter stages of the half, with Asamoah breaking away from the backline more than once but the Luton offside trap was well marshalled and nullified any danger.

Deep in injury time the away side almost levelled through the most unlikely of sources, with Tickle, who had gone forward for the corner, seeing his strike skew narrowly wide of the post. 

Full Time: Luton Town 1-0 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Saville (9).

Attendance; 10,751

Wigan Athletic (4-5-1) --- Tickle; Aimson, Kerr, Fox, Robinson; Weir, Wright, Trevitt; Brenan, Adeeko; Mullin; Subs--- Watson (G), Hungbo (for Weir), J. Smith (for Robinson), Asamoah (for Brenan), Saydee(for Mullin), Costelloe (for Wright), Sessegnon;

Luton Town (3-4-2-1) ---- Keeley; Naismith, McGuinness, Lonwijk; Bramall, Walsh, Saville, Kodua; Alli, Clark; Yates Subs--- Shea (G), Woodrow, Nordas (for Bramall), Holmes (for Yates), Nelson (for Kodua), Baptiste, Lamine-Fanne;

Referee; Mr. Carl Brook (Sussex).