Report by SJG

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs ROTHERHAM UNITED

 14^th April 2026

THREE IN A ROW FOR LATICS AS THEY CLIMB TABLE.

Wigan Athletic moved eight points clear of the drop zone with their third victory on the bounce against Rotherham United and in so doing they all but guaranteed that League One football would be the fare for the 2026-27 season.                                                               

With confidence high and the team in good form, Caldwell, for the fourth consecutive match, named an unchanged starting XI for the vital League One clash. The only change in the squad saw goalkeeper Toby Savin return to replace Callum McManaman on the bench.

A lively Latics side started on the front foot as they searched for a third consecutive win and when a corner presented an opportunity, Caldwell's men nearly took it with James Carragher flicking on at the near post, but Rotherham cleared the danger away at the last second.                                                                                                                                                           

The attacks kept coming with Fraser Murray able to race past his marker down the left and cut a clever ball back to Dara Costelloe on the edge of the six-yard box for a first-time effort at goal that Cann did well to tip around the post. Eventually, Latics made the pressure count and following a corner it was Smith who did well to wriggle his way into space and set a ball back to Raphael, who crossed towards the back post for Carragher, he nodded back to KERR who powered his header into the back of the net. For the few minutes the visitors threatened as they had their best spell of the game and when the ball broke free to Sam Nombe, he rifled a shot high over the bar from the edge of the area.                                              

The remainder of the half lost impetus and gradually descended into a scrappy affair that was being played on a pitch that was heavy and bobbly underfoot.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Rotherham United.  

Latics stepped up the pressure again at the start of the second half and when Matt Smith, who looks to be finding his form after a disjointed season, played an exquisite outside-of-the-boot pass through to Joe TAYLOR who left the on-rushing Ted Cann helpless as he shot low and early to find the net.                              Callum WRIGHT then grabbed his third goal in three consecutive games when he picked up a low cross from Raphael before finding a yard of space and firing a deflected shot that looped over the diving keeper and into the net. 

Gary Caldwell took the chance to ring the changes from his bench and offer some rest to the players who have done so well in recent games. Trevitt, Bettoni, Hungbo, Fox and Moxon were all given game time and Wigan could easily have added more goals to their tally. Bettoni had a near post flick that flew just wide and Trevitt had a good appeal for a penalty kick waved away (well two penalties in two games would have been unbelievable).

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 3-0 Rotherham United.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Attendance; 7,989

Scorers; Kerr (15), Taylor (52), Wright (63).

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

Rotherham United (4-3-3) ---- Cann; Rafferty, Agbaire, Jules, Cover; Baptiste, Gore, Lee; Biancherie, Nombe, Gray; Subs--- Martha (for Biancherie), Clarke (for Lee), Hugill (for Baptiste), Adegboyega (for Cover), Ayres, Holmes, Childs (G).

Referee; Mr. Benjamin Speedie (Merseyside)

Only a few weeks ago Wigan looked to be facing a spell in Division Two but after a fine run of form they have climbed to 13^th spot in the table and all the talk is of finishing the season strongly (maybe even top half), and planning for next season and an assault on promotion.