Report by SJG

 LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

DONCASTER ROVERS vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 24^th January 2026

LATICS SHOW FIGHTING SPIRIT TO SAVE A PRECIOUS POINT.

Latics somehow managed to salvage a huge point on the road in Sky Bet League One as goals from Joe Taylor, Callum Wright and Owen Moxon saw Ryan Lowe's men come from three goals down to grab an unlikely draw.                                                                                                  

With a full week to prepare for the trip over the Pennines, Latics opted for four changes to the side that took to the field against Bolton, with Owen Moxon and Joe Taylor handed their first starts in a Wigan shirt. Saydee and Murray also returned to the starting XI for the trip to the Eco-Power Stadium.                                                                                                                                    

Latics started brightly and had two big opportunities through Bettoni and Raphael to grab the lead. Bettoni had a golden chance after Saydee slipped him in behind the home defence to take the ball around Clark and fire towards an empty goal, but McGrath got back well to block on the line. Then Raphael Borges Rodrigues stung the palms of the Doncaster keeper after making a dart into the area. However, for all of Latics' solid work in the opening minutes, it was the hosts who took the lead when a cross from the left wasn't dealt with, and OKORONKWO raced onto the loose ball to strike off the bar and into the back of the net.                                                                                                               

Wigan looked shaken and Doncaster gained in confidence as they looked the more comfortable, and when a corner from Luke Molyneux found the head of MCGRATH, who rose highest to head past Sam Tickle who tried desperately to stop the downward header, but it evaded his efforts and the home side had netted their second of the afternoon.                                                

Latics were getting forward at times mainly through set-pieces, but Doncaster continued to have clear-cut opportunities. The hosts broke through again with Hakeeb Adelakun sprinting down the left before working it back in-field towards Molyneux, who dropped a shoulder and fired towards goal, but Tickle was equal to the effort and produced a diving stop to parry the shot away. Latics defended deep and somehow survived until the break to give some hope that the second half may see a recovery.                                                                                                       

Half Time; Doncaster Rovers 2-0 Wigan Athletic.                                                                    

Four minutes into the second period Latics failed to clear their lines and following some chaotic defending they presented CLIFTON with a simple chance to curl a shot towards goal, and the ball flew in via a post.                                                                                                                

The game looked lost, but Latics somehow found it within themselves to carry on fighting and battled their way back into proceedings, which they managed to do eleven minutes later when 

TAYLOR found space on the edge of the box to finesse a curled shot neatly into the top corner. Roadbent produced a notable effort that tested Tickle, but shortly after, substitute Callum WRIGHT capitalized on a near-post cross delivered by Murray, placing the ball beyond Clark in the Rovers' goal to narrow Latics’ deficit to just one.                  

Doncaster continued to press, but so did Latics, and when a Murray corner was whipped into the 18-yard box, MOXON leapt highest, beating several Doncaster players in the air to head into the top corner of the net and ensure Latics went home with a point.                                                

Doncaster nearly grabbed a late winner when a deep cross was headed back into the area and when the ball was directed goalwards the alert Tickle produced a superb low save as he dove low to his left to push the ball away.

Full Time; Doncaster Rovers 3-3 Wigan Athletic.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Scorers; Okoronkwo (6), Molyneux (22), Clifton (49); Taylor (60), Wright (66), Moxon (88).                                                                                                                                                

Attendance; 8,128             

Wigan Athletic (3-4-2-1) --- Tickle; Aimson, Carragher, Fox; Murray, Moxon, M. Smith, Raphael; Taylor, Bettoni; Saydee; Subs--- Savin (G), Weir (for Moxon), Costelloe (for Taylor), Wright (for Bettoni), Asamoah (for Raphael), Sessegnon, Hungbo.

Doncaster Rovers (4-1-4-1) ---- Clark; Sterry, Bailey, Mcgrath, Senior; Gotts; Adelakun, Clifton, Broadbent, Molyneux; Okoronkwo; Subs--- Lo-Tutala (G), Middleton, Gibson (for Adelakun), Hanlan (for Okoronkwo), Robinson (for Broadbent), Sharp (for Molyneux), Grehan (for Clifton).

Referee; Mr. David Rock (Hertfordshire).