Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs BLACKPOOL

 20^th December 2025

GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST HAUNT LATICS.

Ashley Fletcher and Dale Taylor returned to haunt Latics with two goals in a six-minute burst in the second period after both sides had played out a goalless first half.  Ryan Lowe’s side came into the contest in 12th, with the Latics keen to kickstart a hectic winter period with Wigan playing three fixtures in nine days to round out 2025. The visitors arrived at the Brick seemingly having improved recently under ex- Bolton boss Ian Evatt.                  

Wigan made just one change to the side that took a point from West Yorkshire with Dara Costelloe coming in for Luke Robinson, who was named on the bench.                                                                                                                                

Blackpool made three changes to their lineup. James Husband and Olly Casey were preferred in the defence, replacing Michael Ihiekwe and Zac Ashworth, whilst Jordan Brown started instead of former Tic Lee Evans in midfield.                                                                                                 

Evans was not the only familiar name in the Blackpool side; Fletcher, their leading scorer, was named amongst the starters, whilst Dale Taylor was on the substitutes' bench.                          

The game began in tentative fashion with Latics shading the possession and territory, but the first shot on goal came from the visitors, when Josh Bowler drifted inside from the right before sending in a bobbling attempt that was swept up by Sam Tickle.                                                    

Latics produced a response, creating an effort on target of their own when Callum Wright’s deft header from a Morgan Fox cross was calmly collected by Bailey Peacock-Farrell in the Blackpool net.                                                                                                                                     

Wigan continued to build momentum in the contest and should have gone ahead with only 15 minutes played. Fraser Murray’s in-swinging corner from the right provoked panic as the defence struggled to clear and the ball was finally met by the head of Will Aimson. However, the ex-Blackpool man who really should have opened the scoring against his old side directed his effort over the bar from close range.                                                                                    

The game began to settle into a midfield battle with neither side seeming able to control the ball as passes went astray and chances were hard to come by.                                             

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Blackpool.                                                                                    

The second half got underway and again both sides struggled to find any rhythm but all that changed on the hour mark after the introduction of ex Wigan loanee Dale Taylor. Taylor has struggled to make an impression following his move to the seaside, but it took him only minutes to find space on the right and he advanced quickly before sliding in a low cross that FLETCHER calmly steered beyond Tickle.                                                                          

Wigan pushed for a quick response and just minutes later they nearly forced a leveller when a Costelloe flick on was met by Aimson, whose effort was palmed away by Peacock-Farrell.  

Blackpool then caught Latics with a fast counter down the Wigan left and a low cross was neatly touched on by Fletcher for TAYLOR to bundle home a second. Wigan continued to huff and puff, and when Paul Mullin produced a neat near post finish from a whipped cross it seemed to offer a lifeline, but the assistant had raised his flag for a very tight offside.                                                                                                                                  

It clearly was not to be Wigans day as more half chances came and went. Mullin latched onto a Carragher flick, but his volley flew over the bar, then a whipped corner arrived at Mullins head, but he could not quite turn the header onto the target. Latics clocked up twenty-two shots at goal compared to eight from the visitors, but it was not to be the result that they had hoped for.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 0-2 Blackpool.

Scorers; Fletcher (59), Taylor (64).

Attendance; 10,670

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

Blackpool (3-4-1-2) ---- Peacock-Farrell; Casey, Horsfall, Husband; Imray, Honeyman, Brown, Coulson; Bowler; Fletcher, Bloxham; Subs--- Banks, Evans, Hamilton, Ashworth (for Coulson), Morgan (for Bowler), Taylor (for Bloxham), Lyons (for Casey).

Referee; Mr. John Busby (Oxfordshire)