Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs STEVENAGE

 29^th November 2025

LATICS SPURN LATE CHANCES AS DEFENCES COME OUT ON TOP

Latics continued their unbeaten streak with a draw against table-topping Stevenage at the Brick Community Stadium

The only personnel change in the matchday squad saw Matt Smith replace Academy graduate Tobias Brenan on the bench, with the popular ex-Arsenal midfielder having served a one-match suspension for reaching five yellow cards.

Both sides are rightly proud of their respective defensive records, and a tight low-scoring affair was widely predicted but the opening fifteen minutes promised so much more as both sides pushed forward as they looked to gain an early scoreboard advantage.                                                                   

Wright was prominent in his advanced midfield role, and his prompting allowed Raphael Borges Rodrigues and Fraser Murray to send inviting crosses into the box, that just lacked the final touch.                                                                                                                         

The visitors are well known for their set-piece prowess, so it came as no surprise that their first opportunity was from a corner. Ahadme battled to win a header from six yards out, but Tickle got a strong hand to the headed attempt and tipped it over the crossbar.                     

It was a special afternoon for striker Dara Costelloe, who made his 100th career appearance and his volley from a Raphael cross was blocked but it fell to Weir who screwed his shot narrowly wide.                                                                                                                         

The end-to-end nature of the game continued, and Tickle again came to his side's rescue. A miscued clearance by Fox fell kindly to in-form striker Reid, but Tickle immediately recognised the danger and made himself big to block the close-range strike.               

The game, after the chaotic opening, settled into the tight affair that had been expected as both sides probed for an opening, and it was Latics who went closest when Kerr muscled his way into the six-yard box to meet a Murray corner with a downward header that Marschall did well to save.                                                                                                              

Tickle was then called upon to make his third big save when a whipped delivery down Latics' right was directed towards goal by Reid's unconventional flick, and the young keeper showed good reactions to push it around his near post.

Wright made an intelligent run a minute before the interval to get behind the Stevenage defence and he appeared to be brought down as he looked to pounce, but despite appeals for a penalty the referee continued play before blowing for half-time shortly afterwards.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Stevenage.

The second half got off to a fairly quiet start, but it was Latics who now started to knock on the door as Stevenage struggled to mount a serious threat in attack. Costelloe's never-say-die attitude almost led to the opener when he fought and wrestled to slide the ball into Wright's path inside the box, but he was denied, at full stretch, by former Latics defender Charlie Goode.                                                                                                                           

A Latics short corner routine almost led to the opener on 70 minutes. Murray exchanged passes with Wright before whipping a delightful ball to the near post, but Weir couldn't direct his header on target. Morgan Fox, who after his early slip had been excellent all afternoon in defence, almost provided the breakthrough. His wicked cross from the left found the run of Murray, who somehow steered his close-range header just wide in the 83rd minute.

It was then substitute Harrison Bettoni's turn as the 18-year-old almost added to his growing reputation in the closing minutes, but he directed his diving header wide.

A hard-fought game had yielded a point, but Wigan now switch their focus to Tuesday when a win against Burton Albion should see them leap several places in the tightly contested division.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Stevenage.

Attendance; 8,679

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

Stevenage (5-3-2) ---- Marschall; James-Wildin, Goode, Sweeney, Freestone, Earley; Phillips, White, Kemp; Ahadme, Reid; Subs--- Ashby-Hammond (G), Piergianni, Pattenden (for Earley), Lubala (for Ahadme), Campbell (for Reid), Thompson (for White), Patterson (for Kemp).

Referee; Mr. Ross Joyce (Cleveland)