Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

EXETER CITY vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 8^th November 2025

LATICS LEFT HANGING ON FOR PRECIOUS POINT.

Wigan Athletic battled to return home from Exeter City with a point on Saturday afternoon. 

Callum Wright broke the deadlock in Devon midway through the first half, before Jayden Wareham struck at the start of the second 45 to ensure the spoils were shared at St James Park.

Latics arrived at St James Park, looking to continue their three-match unbeaten streak and return to winning ways in Sky Bet League One. After a full week of training, Ryan Lowe wanted to see his Wigan Athletic side at their very best when facing the Grecians. 

Wigan were looking to raise their recent performance levels and reignite their early-season form with a first away win of the season.

Standing in their way was a very familiar face in the opposition dugout, with Gary Caldwell leading the Grecians. Caldwell, who lifted the Emirates FA Cup with Latics as a player in 2013, returned to help the Football Club win the League One title in the 2015/16 campaign. 

He has done a stellar job at St James Park following his appointment in October 2022, and his success has continued at the beginning of this term. Prior to the fixture, the Grecians had not lost on home soil since the end of September and had recently defeated Devon rivals Plymouth Argyle in their last league outing at St James Park.

Wigan made four changes to their starting XI with Will Aimson, Luke Robinson, Matt Smith, and Raphael Borges Rodrigues being reinstated into the starting line-up, replacing James Carragher, Ollie Cooper, Joe Hungbo, and Paul Mullin.

Wigan were being backed by a good contingent of fans and the team responded well in the early stages as they made a fast-paced start to the League One encounter. 

Latics were aggressive in the tackle and played in a direct style that resulted in two decent opportunities being created in quick succession inside the opening 10 minutes. Exeter City skipper Pierce Sweeney applied just enough pressure to prevent Wright from directing Christian Saydee's cross home, before skipper Jason Kerr flashed an uncontested header wide from the resulting corner.

Exeter gradually settled into the game as the intensity dropped and they began to control large parts of the possession without really creating much by way of chances. Then, with 22 minutes on the clock, Wright was again positioned well to have another attempt on goal. Fraser Murray's ball through from the left was diverted into his path, and the Plymouth Argyle loanee was denied at point-blank range by the excellent Joe Whitworth.

Having had two near-misses, the third time proved to be the charm for WRIGHT, who broke the deadlock in Devon. Quick-thinking from Morgan Fox caught the Exeter defence napping and allowed Wright to get in behind. He took the ball down well and slid his shot beyond the oncoming Whitworth. It was a fine finish and Wright's second in as many games. 

It almost got even better for Latics on the half-hour mark when Saydee released Murray with a lovely reverse pass through, but the Club's leading scorer saw his rasping drive pushed wide at the near post by Whitworth.

A response was always going to be heading in Latics' direction, and after having not much to do, Sam Tickle had to come to the team's rescue before the break. Jack McMillan took a shot from the edge of the 18-yard box, and Tickle sprang himself across his goal to parry the attempt wide.

Half Time; Exeter City 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

The hosts made a switch at the interval, and it almost instantly paid dividends. Ilmari Niskanen delivered a troubling ball into the mix from the right-hand side, and Tickle had to react quickly to deny the arriving Danny Andrew. 

The home side, who had 75% of possession in the first half without really threatening suddenly looked a threat with every foray and Robinson was at full stretch to contain the pacy Exeter winger.

Exeter's eventual found the equaliser in the 53rd minute. Following an excellent piece of passing play a quick move developed down the right and it ended with WAREHAM directed his first time finish from Reece Cole's low cross into the corner.

Latics tried to respond but Raphael saw his low drive pushed wide by a sprawling  Whitworth in the City goal.

Exeter had the wind in their sails and Wigan were looking stretched in defence as the rearguard produced a number of vital blocks to ensure the scores remained level.

Latics had to wait for their next opportunity, and it was carved by a wonderful one-touch move. Smith, Murray, and Saydee combined to set up Wright, whose curling strike was well dealt with by Whitworth.

With four minutes left to play, Captain Kerr had a golden chance to win it for Latics. The skipper broke free inside the six-yard box and met Jensen Weir's left-sided corner, but he couldn't guide his header into the back of the net.

Both sides continued to push for that winning goal, but it was Latics who could and probably should have grabbed the winner when, following a free kick, a bobbling ball was lashed into the back of the Exeter net by Saydee, but the goal was harshly disallowed for an alleged handball in the build-up.

It proved to be the last roll of the dice, with the League One encounter finishing all square at St James Park.

Full Time; Exeter City 1-1 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Wright (24); Wareham (53).

Attendance; 6,585

Wigan Athletic (4-4-1-1) --- Tickle; Fox, Aimson, Kerr, Robinson; M. Smith, Weir, Murray, Wright; Raphael, Saydee; Subs--- Savin (G), Cooper, McManaman, Carragher (for Robinson), Asamoah (for Murray), Mullin (for Saydee), Hungbo.

Exeter City (4-2-3-1) ---- Whitworth; Sweeney, Fitzwater, Turns, Niskanen; McMillen, Brierley; Andrew, Cole, Higgins; Wareham; Subs--- Francis (for Wareham), Aitchison (for Higgins), Yfeko, Magennis (for McMillan), McDonald (for Cole), Oakes, Bycroft (G).

Referee; Mr. Stephen Parkinson (Sandhurst, Berkshire)