Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

PETERBOROUGH UNITED vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 7^th February 2026

SIX OF THE WORST AS LATICS IMPLODE AND LOWE STORMS OUT.

After making the long trip to the Weston Homes Stadium, Latics were determined to end what’s been a challenging few weeks with a victory.                                           

The journey to face Peterborough United was the start of another three-game week, which sees Latics host Reading on Tuesday evening before travelling to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal in the Emirates FA Cup. Fourth Round.                                     

Latics had their eyes firmly on improving league form, Lowe's men were looking to rectify recent form, having not tasted a win in Sky Bet League One since their away triumph at Burton Albion at the end of December.                                           

With an opportunity to make amends down South after being buoyed by the way they finished last weekend’s game against second-placed Lincoln City, Ryan Lowe made four changes which included handing Jack Hunt his debut following his arrival on Transfer Deadline Day. Caylan Vickers, who also arrived on Deadline Day, had to settle for a place on the bench.  Steven Sessegnon makes his first league start since October, while Raphael and Joe Hungbo also return to the starting line-up. Jensen Weir, James Carragher, Fraser Murray and Asamoah being the four players who made way.                           

Things didn't get off to the best of starts for Latics, who found themselves a goal down after just seven minutes when Tom Lees zipped a low cross towards the back post for Kyrell LISBIE to tap in.                                                                                                                                      

Four minutes later and Lees again was on hand with an assist. The defender headed a Cian Hayes' cross back across the face of goal for LISBIE to nod in from close range.  As the half hour mark approached, Latics did respond to halve the deficit when Callum Wright won the ball back from Carl Johnstone inside the area to pick out Joe TAYLOR 12 yards from goal for a first-time, right-footed finish into the bottom left corner.                                                               

The hosts grabbed their third of the afternoon when a long ball forward from goalkeeper Alex Bass took a slight deflection and fell kindly into the path of MORGAN for a lobbed shot at goal. The initial effort bounced off the crossbar, but Tickle was slow to recover which allowed the Peterborough player to head in from a few yards out.                                                         

Half Time; Peterborough United 3-1 Wigan Athletic.                                                                  

Wigan tried to be positive, and they clearly still had hopes of repeating their fightback at Doncaster, but when a couple of half-chances were squandered, it allowed the hosts to supress any momentum that Wigan were building and then they added a fourth goal through Leonard. Morgan got to the byline and stood a ball up to the back post for his teammates to attack, which LEONARD accepted the challenge of and finished into the back of the net.                      

Peterborough United's goalscoring exploits weren't finished there, and after Latics lost possession in the final third, a swift counterattack from the home side saw Frith feed ADEROJU, who finished under pressure into the bottom corner.                                                                               

Then as the 90 minutes approached, the hosts scored again. Frith's work inside the 18-yard box allowed LISBIE to run in from behind the Latics defence and slot into the far corner of the net and complete his hat-trick.

Full Time; Peterborough United 6-1 Wigan Athletic.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Scorers; Taylor (26); Lisbie (7), (10), (90), Morgan (41), Leonard (69), Aderoju (84).

Attendance; 8,842       

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

Peterborough United (4-2-3-1) ---- Bass; Dornelly, Lees, Okagbue, Johnston; Collins, O’Brien-Brady; Hayes, Morgan, Lisbie; Leonard. Subs---Smith (G), Kioso, Aderoju (for Leonard), Sykut (for Morgan), Nevett (for Okagbue), Frith (for Hayes), Khela (for O’Brien-Brady).

Referee; Mr. Stephen Parkinson (Sandhurst, Berkshire).

The Wigan fans spent much of the later stages in the game shouting for Lowe to be dismissed and several angry exchanges took place. Ryan Lowe made a hasty exit at full time, as he, probably sensibly, chose not to approach the supporters. He also chose not to attend the post-match press conference, and it was quickly announced that he had been relieved of his duties as Wigan began the search for a replacement to try and reactivate their season and drag the club away from the relegation spots.