Wigan Athletic suffered a third consecutive League One defeat, losing 1-0 to AFC Wimbledon in a match decided by a late goal. The result leaves Gary Caldwell's side rooted to the bottom of the table with zero points from three games, a position confirmed by the latest standings.
Myles Hippolyte scored the winner in the 88th minute at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, converting an assist from Donnell McNeilly. The defeat means Wigan Athletic have now scored just two goals while conceding six this season, leaving them with a -4 goal difference and seven points behind early leaders Blackpool.
How did the match unfold?
Wigan Athletic created several chances but failed to capitalise. Jensen Weir saw a shot turned into a cross that goalkeeper Joe McDonnell tipped onto the crossbar. Connor Barrett forced a good save from McDonnell after being found in the box. Sonny Perkins fired over an empty net from a cross, and Jayden Stockley headed over the bar with five minutes left.
The decisive moment came from a Wigan error. Goalkeeper Joe Walsh headed a clearance straight to Jayden Stockley, leading to a penalty appeal that was waved away. Shortly after, Donnell McNeilly set up Myles Hippolyte for the only goal. The League Paper reported that Wigan manager Gary Caldwell was left bewildered by the loss. "I don’t know how we have lost it to be perfectly honest, but we have to get better in certain actions," Caldwell said.
What is Wigan Athletic's current league position?
The loss solidifies a terrible start to the campaign for Wigan Athletic. They are 24th in League One with zero points, having lost all three of their opening fixtures. Their recent form reads as three straight losses. This leaves them already facing a significant gap to the top, sitting seven points behind Blackpool. The team's immediate focus shifts to halting this slide, with their next game a tough home fixture against third-placed Stockport County on September 5th, as listed on the club's fixtures page.
What was the impact of Junior Nkeng?
AFC Wimbledon's 19-year-old substitute Junior Nkeng came on in the 67th minute and influenced the game positively for the hosts. His performance came amid reported summer transfer interest from Wigan Athletic. Dons manager Johnnie Jackson acknowledged the uncertainty around the young player's future. "I hope so, for that reason that you just said there, he is different to what we have got," Jackson said when asked about Nkeng's potential importance. The win was AFC Wimbledon's first of the League One season.
What comes next for Wigan Athletic?
The pressure is mounting on Wigan Athletic to find a result quickly. Their next opportunity comes in a midweek fixture at home to high-flying Stockport County. Stockport currently sit third in the table, presenting a formidable challenge for a Wigan side searching for their first points. Manager Gary Caldwell has insisted his team could have won all three games so far, but they must now turn performances into results. The squad will need to address their finishing and defensive errors, details of which can be tracked on the club's stats page, ahead of the crucial September 5th clash.
