A bad tempered game which saw three players sent off, two from Wigan saw Millwall score two goals after the initial dismissal of Waghorn, a defeat which leaves Wigan on the cusp of relegation to league one.
New Wigan manager Gary Caldwell opted to retain the same starting line up that drew with Fulham, the only change being the introduction of Tim Chow onto the bench in place of McKay. Wigan gave intentions of things to come when McClean forced Forde into a sharp save.
Wigan continued to play in a similar vein to the Fulham game with slick passing with Kvist and Lim to the fore but as so often this season the lack of anything approaching a prolific goal scorer proved Wigan’s undoing. Fortune was the main culprit in the first half missing a guilt edge chance when heading the ball into the ground allowing Forde to tip the ball over the bar when a direct header would have resulted in the opening goal.
The game grew more physical as it went on with tackles flying in thick and fast and the first real flashpoint was when Gregory reacted to a foul by Bong and players waded in from both sides which earned Gregory and Bong a portent of things to come. Not for the first time this season, Kim was Wigan’s major attacking foil and the South Korean caused Forde to produce a fine save
Half time came with Latics very much in the ascendancy but once again the side with the second lowest goals for tally in the division had fired blanks.
The second half began with an increased intensity in terms of physicality with Millwall spurred on by local hero turned manager Neil Harris tore into Wigan and Boyce did well to clear a goalbound shot. shortly after half time former Millwall loanee Waghorn replaced Fortune as the main striker. His appearance turned into a short lived cameo however when Waghorn went to ground following what appeared to be a foul by Cummings. Waghorn reacted angrily, kicking out at the Millwall defender who dropped to the floor leaving the referee with no option but to issue a straight red card thus ending Waghorn’s season.
Despite going down to ten men, Wigan continued to play attacking football and Bong broke through following good work from man of the match Kim and with Pennant unmarked int he centre , the Cameroonian international opted to shoot and blazed over the bar. Latics were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal when a cross from the left was met by Abdou whose powerful header beat Carson all ends up.
Wigan were very quickly down to nine men when Pearce was harshly adjudged to have committed a foul deserving of a red card for violent conduct when replays appear to show him clearly winning the ball. He was joined in his walk for an early shower by Millwall’s Upson who was given a red card for his reaction.
Wigan went for broke and with virtually the whole team in the Millwall half, and a quick breakout saw Gueye outpace Maguire and shot low and hard into the far corner of the Wigan goal to seal the victory and plunge the Latics into further relegation chaos.
Team Line up
Carson, Boyce, Maguire, Pearce, Bong, Pennant( Chow),Perch, Kvist (Ojo), Kim, McClean, Fortune( Waghorn)
Attendance ….8,494
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