Wigan Athletic suffered a demoralising 4-0 home defeat to Stockport County at the Brick Community Stadium this week. Defender Morgan Fox conceded his team were punished for a disastrous start that left them with an impossible task.
What went wrong for Wigan Athletic?
The match was effectively over within the first 21 minutes. Stockport County raced into a three-goal lead through strikes from Kyle Wootton, Harry Wood, and Jack Diamond. Fox told Wigan Today that the team 'lost it right at the start of the game.' He explained, 'We got it wrong, and gave ourselves a mountain to climb.' The Latics offered little response in the first half, with Archie Harris hitting the post their only notable moment before the break.
Substitute Chris Sze forced a good save after coming on, but any hope of a comeback was extinguished when Ryan Glover added a fourth for the visitors in the final minute. The comprehensive loss leaves Wigan Athletic 24th in League One, with just three points from their opening five matches. Their recent form reads LWLLL, and they have conceded 11 goals while scoring only five this season.
How did Morgan Fox assess the performance?
The experienced defender did not hide from the scale of the defeat. 'Look, any time you get beat 4-0, especially at home, you're hurting,' Fox said. 'I'm gutted, and I know every single one of the lads in the dressing room is the same.' He acknowledged the gulf in cohesion between the two sides, describing Stockport as a 'group largely been together for a while' while Wigan are a 'really new group.'
Fox stressed that the team is not looking for excuses but wants to reach the level of understanding shown by their opponents. He pointed out that being 'slightly off against a good side like Stockport' will lead to punishment. The second half offered minor improvement, with the team creating a couple of chances they felt they should have scored from. Fox confirmed the squad will review the performance in detail during the coming week.
What is the context of Wigan's league position?
The defeat compounds a difficult start to the campaign for Shaun Maloney's side. Sitting rock bottom of the table, they are already nine points behind early leaders Sheffield Wednesday. That gap makes their next fixture, an away trip to face those same Sheffield Wednesday leaders on September 12th, a daunting prospect. You can view the full challenge ahead on the standings page.
This result highlights the defensive frailties that have plagued Wigan so far. The -6 goal difference is among the worst in the division. Building a more resilient unit will be essential to climbing away from the relegation zone. The manager will be looking for a response from his players, and the current squad will need to show rapid improvement.
Where do Wigan Athletic go from here?
The immediate focus is on a brutal analysis of this performance. Fox said emotions are always high immediately after a game, making clear assessment difficult. The coming days will be spent going through the footage and correcting the errors that proved so costly. Nothing, Fox noted, compares to the pressure of matchday and the fight for three points.
The schedule does not get any easier. After the international break, the Latics face the toughest possible test away at the league's top side. Preparation for that match begins with a hard look at why they were so thoroughly outplayed at home. The team travels to face Sheffield Wednesday on September 12, 2026.
