Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs WYCOMBE WANDERERS

 11^th October 2025

ARE LATICS SLIDING INTO A RELEGATION BATTLE?

As the fans filed away from the Brick Community Stadium the question that was on most people’s lips was, when will the form and results improve?

Wigan Athletic slid to a narrow defeated to a Wycombe Wanderers side who sat well below them in the table.

It was a frustrating day for everyone connected with the Football Club as Ryan Lowe's Latics were simply unable to break down Wycombe's resolute defence, as they recorded a third straight home defeat following a first-half strike from Sam Bell.

Latics welcomed Michael Duff’s side back to the Brick Community Stadium for the second time in less than a month as they looked to avenge their 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat. 

After fully recovering from a knock sustained against Cardiff City, Paul Mullin came back into the starting XI, replacing Jensen Weir.

It was Latics who started positively in front of their home supporters, fashioning two opportunities inside the opening 10 minutes. Christian Saydee dragged his strike wide following an intelligent run and set back by Fraser Murray, while Mullin was unable to set himself quickly enough to head Steven Sessegnon's inviting cross on target. 

Another half-chance came and went when Robinson pulled a cross back into the box but the ball was slightly behind Murray and his improvised overhead flick sent the ball over the crossbar.

Despite controlling the opening 30 minutes, Latics fell behind after Wycombe buried their first opportunity of the game. A quick counter attack saw Latics short of numbers in defence and in slid BELL, just ahead of Matt Smith, to turn Fred Onyedinma's low cross from the right past the stranded Tickle.

The onus was on Latics to come back from behind yet again and as Wycombe slowed the game at every opportunity it was clear that the fans were becoming very frustrated. Murray did have a sight of goal when he created an opportunity from nothing. The Scotsman flicked up the ball, and his shot on the bounce was well claimed by Chairboys skipper Will Norris. That proved to be the last opportunity of the half and the players left the field to a number of boo’s in the stands.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-1 Wycombe Wanderers.

Ryan Lowe shuffled his pack at the break in an attempt to turn the tide. Callum Wright, Joe Hungbo, and Dara Costelloe all entered the fray, and this seemed to provide the team with an instant boost as a well-worked move almost created a scoring chance for Costelloe.

At the other end, Sam Tickle had to react very quickly to parry Onyedinma's strike from a tight angle past the frame of the goal.

The stop-start nature of the game meant Latics struggled to get into a consistent flow but they did put together some nice patterns of play. Will Aimson found Hungbo down the left, and Costelloe was inches away from diverting his dangerous driven cross into the goal.

Costelloe again nearly brought the game back level with just four minutes remaining. A wonderful flick from Murray fed Saydee, whose cross was glanced just wide of the target by the Republic of Ireland frontman. 

Matt Smith constantly tried to make things happen in the middle of the park, and his pass, late in proceedings, looked to have unlocked Wycombe's defence and played in Saydee, but the ex-Portsmouth striker delayed his shot and this allowed the defence to scramble back and recover well to clear.

Six minutes were added at the end of the second half, and Costelloe suddenly found himself in on goal after a deft pass by Will Aimson but he was denied a last-gasp equaliser by an outstanding one-on-one save from Norris.

All the attention now turns to Port Vale next week, when Lowe's men will look to bounce back and banish all talk of a long relegation battle.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 0-1 Wycombe Wanderers.

Scorers; Bell (35).

Attendance; 7,866

Wigan Athletic (3-5-2) --- Tickle; Sessegnon, Aimson, Kerr; Raphael, M. Smith, Cooper, Murray, Robinson; Mullin, Saydee; Subs--- Savin (G), Costelloe (for Mullin), Hungbo (for Raphael), Wright (for Robinson), McManaman (for Cooper), Fox (for Sessegnon), Weir.

Wycombe Wanderers (4-4-2) ---- Norris; Grimmer, Allen, Casey, Harvie; Henderson, Abbott, Leahy, Onyedinma; McNeilly, Bell. Subs--- Woodrow (for McNeilly), Boyd-Munce (for Leahy), Taylor (for Grimmer), Lowry (for Henderson), Van Sas (G), Fink, Quitirna.

Referee; Mr. Andrew Humphries.