Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

BURTON ALBION vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 29^th December 2025

BATTLING LATICS EARN BIG WIN.

Wigan Athletics’ final game of 2025 saw them claim a vital 2-0 victory at Burton Albion on Monday evening.                                                                                                                        

Teenage sensation Harrison Bettoni opened the scoring in the 64th minute with a wonderful header, before Dara Costelloe wrapped up the victory three minutes from time to ensure the travelling fans went home happy.                                                                                             

All signs pointed to the Pirelli stadium for Latics, who headed to Derbyshire for their final fixture of the calendar year. The pressure was on Ryan Lowe's men to end 2025 on a high and bounce back following successive defeats against Blackpool and Bradford City that had left them hovering perilously close to the drop zone.                                                               

Suspended duo Jensen Weir and Matt Smith were replaced in the engine room by Francois and Brenan, while Joe Hungbo made his first start since November, replacing Fraser Murray in the wing-back position. The final change saw a swap up top, with Costelloe coming into the starting line-up in place of ex-Brewers forward Christian Saydee.                                                      

Burton made two changes to the team that dismantled Northampton Town on Boxing Day. Larsson was absent from the squad entirely due to illness, so Sulyman Krubally took his place, while Fábio Tavares replaced Dylan Williams in attack.                                                                

Wigan started brightly and within the first minute, captain James Carragher had delivered a wonderful cross from the right, which Callum Wright almost met at the far post. Further opportunities followed as inside the opening five minutes a move started by a magical turn by Bettoni led to Hungbo's left-sided cross almost being back-heeled home by Costelloe, before Francois fired his strike just over the crossbar from the edge of the box.                                                 

Bettoni was the next to threaten for Latics in the 13th minute, his strike had Brad Collins beaten but agonisingly came off the foot of the post, denying the 18-year-old his third goal of the season.                                                                                                                               

Having dominated the early proceedings, Sam Tickle came up with a vital stop to keep the scores level at the other end. With Brewers captain Jake Beesley looking poised to punish Latics for not fully clearing their lines, Tickle sprang into action, blocking the striker's effort from point-blank range. That chance was the prelude to a bombardment from the home side with a succession of corners and long throws being well defended by the hard-working Latics defence. The frantic nature of the encounter began to settle down as the first half neared its end, with Latics having finally quelled the physical challenge of Burton and they now looked to fashion openings of their own in the final third.                                                                              

Half Time; Burton Albion 0-0 Wigan Athletic.                                                                          

Wigan began the second half well and began to play some more controlled football. Francois was at the centre of most of the improvement as Wigan still played quite directly but now took more care over their forward balls. Morgan Fox was particularly effective as he defended well and played some delightful passes to pick out his fellow players.  A quick throw-in pinballed before falling kindly to Callum Wright, who connected well with his volley that stung the palms of Collins.                                                                                                                                          

Bettoni showcased his talent and flair troubling the Brewers defence with his tricky dribbling and direct running. A brilliant run down the right and a clever through ball almost had Raphael Borges Rodrigues in on goal, but Collins recognised the danger and was off his line quickly. Then on 64 minutes Latics' pressure paid dividends. Hungbo was allowed space to drive down the left-hand side, and his deep cross was headed home at the far post by Bettoni, sending the travelling fans behind the goal into delirium.                                                                                  

Burton tried to muster a response and Wigan were again forced to defend well as their control of midfield was now a fading memory, but the home side were unable to force Tickle into any significant action, and it was the 86^th minute before they finally created an opportunity to level proceedings. A deep cross found Lofthouse arriving late in the Wigan area, but he headed narrowly wide when he should have hit the target.                                                                              

 A minute later and Dara Costelloe wrapped up the points for Wigan. Substitute Murray lofted a deft ball over the Burton defence, and Costelloe kept a cool head before rolling his strike into the bottom corner.                                                                                                                      

Latics saw out the remainder of the game and held out for a huge three points. They will now look to build on the victory when they host Barnsley on New Year's Day.                             

Full Time; Burton Albion 0-2 Wigan Athletic.                                                                            

Scorers; Bettoni (64), Costelloe (87).                                                                                      

Attendance; 3,696

Wigan Athletic (3-5-2) --- Tickle; Aimson, Carragher, Fox; Hungbo, Brenan, Francois, Wright, Raphael; Costelloe, Bettoni; Subs--- Savin (G), McManaman (for Costelloe), Asamoah (for Raphael), Murray (for Bettoni), Saydee (for Brenan), Sessegnon, Chapman.

Burton Albion (3-4-2-1) ---- Collins; Hartridge, Evans, Vancooten; Lofthouse, Krubally, Chauke, Armer; Shade, Tavares; Beesley; Subs--- Dudek (G), Williamson, Williams (for Shade), Newall (for Tavares), Akoto (for Vancooten), Taroni (for Beesley), Scutt (for Krubally).

Referee; Mr. Richie Watkins (Nuneaton).