Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs DONCASTER ROVERS

 13^th September 2025

AN IRISHMAN, AN ENGLISHMAN, AND A SCOT…BUT ITS NO JOKE FOR DONNY

Wigan Athletic continued their excellent league form on home soil with a dominant victory over high-flying Doncaster Rovers. 

In an exciting performance that delighted the Latics faithful, Ryan Lowe's side inflicted most of the damage with a blistering first-half display. Three minutes after Dara Costelloe's first goal for the Football Club, Matt Smith came back to haunt his former side, showing great composure to place his strike into the bottom corner. Fraser Murray has enjoyed a superb start to life at the Brick Community Stadium following his summer move from Kilmarnock, and his stunning 20-yarder at the start of the second period sealed the victory. 

Wigans league performances at the Brick have undoubtedly provided the members of the Latics faithful with real entertainment, and Saturday's clash against Doncaster was an opportunity for Lowe's men to return to winning ways in WN5. Latics were set to endure another test of their credentials, this time against a Doncaster side who have taken the Third Tier by storm following their promotion from League Two last term. 

The division’s newcomers, who are managed by Grant McCann have won five of their opening seven matches and arrive at the Brick full of confidence and sitting proudly in second spot in the early season table.

Latics made two changes from last weekend's action-packed draw at Lincoln City, with Steven Sessegnon and Dara Costelloe replacing Jason Kerr and the suspended Christian Saydee in the starting line-up. In Kerr’s absence, Will Aimson was handed the captain’s armband. 

The home side made a fast-paced start and their high-pressure approach had Doncaster under pressure from the first whistle. The deadlock was broken in the 10th minute when Joe Hungbo was allowed space to cross from the right-hand side. The wing backs whipped cross wasn't dealt with by the Doncaster goalkeeper and COSTELLOE got the better of his marker at the far post to slide home his first goal for the Football Club.

Four minutes later, MATTY SMITH made it two against his former side. The ex-Dons loanee latched onto a weak punch following a Murray corner and showed great composure in the crowded penalty area to sit down the charging Pearson and place his effort into the bottom corner. 

It almost got even better for both Latics and Smith, as the classy midfielder rifled a wonderful volley towards the top corner from another half-cleared set-piece, but this time he was denied by a strong  hand of the diving Doncaster keeper. 

At the other end of the field, Doncaster, who were now having much more possession, looked to halve the deficit, and Aimson had to be at his best to block a Billy Sharp strike from inside the penalty area. Luke Molyneux then managed to squeeze his shot through the legs of Hungbo, but despite being unsighted, Sam Tickle did just enough to push the shot around his post.

While the encounter began to settle down as the first half progressed, Latics almost added a third when Morgan Fox met Murray's left-sided corner, forcing Lo-Tutala to tip the awkward header over the crossbar. 

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 2-0 Doncaster Rovers.

Making a change at the break, it was Doncaster who flexed their muscles first at the start of the second half as they looked to grab a goal to get back into the game. Experienced EFL goal-scorer Billy Sharp got a solid connection on a right-sided corner, glancing his header narrowly wide of the target.

Any hope of a Doncaster revival took a heavy knock when moments later Latics went three goals to the good.  The space opened up for the wing-back to drive inside from the left after slick passing had moved the ball quickly across the park. MURRAY moved quickly into the available space and curled a beautiful strike into the far corner, his fourth goal at the Brick Community Stadium since his summer arrival from Kilmarnock. 

Despite Latics slowing down the tempo and dictating play, the visitors were almost handed a lifeline when Molyneux's cross appeared to be looping in, but a combination of the woodwork and Sessegnon kept the ball out and the hosts' clean sheet remained intact.

Lowe introduced a number of substitutes as he tried to ensure that the high tempo was maintained and loan man Rodrigues beat his man with quick feet and his progress was only ended with a cynical foul by Senior which earned the Rovers man a yellow card. The resulting free kick saw Trevitt whipping a shot in at the near post but the keeper was alert and made the save.

The rest of the second half was all about game management for Latics, and the hosts saw the match out to record another league victory on home soil. It was a performance full of character, grit and flair, and one that will provide the team with confidence ahead of next weekend's tricky trip to Bolton Wanderers.

Full Time: Wigan Athletic 3-0 Doncaster Rovers.

Scorers; Costelloe (11), Smith (14), Murray (50);

Attendance; 9,288

Wigan Athletic (3-5-2) --- Tickle; Fox, Sessegnon, Aimson; Murray, M. Smith, Trevitt, Wright, Hungbo; Mullin, Costelloe; Subs--- Savin (G), Cooper (for Smith), Borges Rodrigues (for Hungbo), Adeeko (for Wright), Asamoah (for Mullin), Weir, McManaman (for Murray).

Doncaster Rovers (4-2-3-1) ---- Lo-Tutala; Pearson, Maxwell, Broadbent, O’Riordan; Nixon, Molyneux; Bailey, Sharp, Clifton; Gibson; Subs--- Lawlor (G), Crew (for Nixon), Grehan (for Pearson), Senior (for Maxwell), Middleton (for Clifton), Olusanya (for Gibson), Ajayi.

Referee; Mr. Craig Hicks (Surrey)