Scott Hogan's second-half goal gave Wigan Athletic a key 1-0 home win over Reading. The striker turned in a loose ball in the 71st minute to secure three points that move the Latics up to 24th in the League One standings with seven points from nine games, having recorded two wins, one draw and six losses this season. They have scored six goals and conceded 13, leaving them with a minus seven goal difference and 13 points behind leaders Bradford.
Gary Caldwell made two changes from the side that lost 1-0 at Stevenage on Saturday 10 October, with Archie Harris and Reggie Walsh coming into the starting eleven. Jon Mellish dropped to the bench and Max Power missed out with a thigh injury. The hosts started brightly at the Brick Community Stadium, with Jensen Weir testing Reading goalkeeper Joel Pereira from distance early on.
Reading created the better chances in the first half. Joe Whitworth made a sprawling save to deny Jamie Reid, and Paddy Lane headed a deep cross over the bar before the interval. Wigan improved after the break. Brad Burrowes forced a good stop from Pereira, and Reggie Walsh blazed over from 12 yards out.
The breakthrough came with just under twenty minutes remaining. Christian Saydee, who had just replaced Walsh, raced beyond the defence and swung a cross into the area. Pereira could only parry the ball out, and Hogan was on hand to turn it home at the first time of asking. The goal was Hogan's first of the season and proved decisive.
How the game was won
Wigan managed the game well after taking the lead, despite finishing with fewer shots on target than the visitors. Reading took 17 shots to Wigan's 13, but Whitworth's seven saves ensured a clean sheet. Both sides finished with two yellow cards each, with Charlie Gray and James Carragher booked for the hosts.
Manager Gary Caldwell described it as "a much-needed three points for Gary Caldwell's side". The victory ends a run of two defeats in their last three league games and provides a platform ahead of a tough trip to eighth-placed Oxford United on Tuesday 20 October. Their recent form across the last five matches shows two wins, one draw and two losses, following a sequence of results that included a 3-2 win over Blackpool on Tuesday 22 September and a 0-0 draw at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday 12 September.
Wigan's recent form now reads two wins, one draw and two losses from their last five outings. They will travel to Oxford looking to build on this result and climb further away from the relegation zone.
Paul Kendrick's post-match ratings highlighted goalkeeper Joe Whitworth's performance in the 1-0 win over Reading. Kendrick gave Whitworth an 8, stating he "pulled off a string of fine saves to secure Latics' second clean sheet of the campaign". He also noted Finlay Burns was "back to his best after a shaky game at Stevenage". The win, which moved Wigan to 24th in League One with seven points, was their second in the last five matches (2W-1D-2L).
