Aasgaard's magic gives the ten-men Tics a deserved victory – Stevenage 1 Wigan Athletic 2

Yesterday at 07:26 AM

• Wigan Athletic overcame Stevenage 2-1 with a superb Thelo Aasgaard free-kick in the 95th minute at the Lamex Stadium.
• Latics had gone ahead when substitute Dale Taylor bundled the ball home from Jensen Weir's free-kick on 55 minutes.
• Latics were mystified on 73 minutes when Weir was issued with a straight red card, for a trip on Louis Thompson by referee Jacob Miles, for what was a yellow card offence.
• The hosts equalised on 83 minutes when Dan Kemp volleyed Stevenage level after Dan Sweeney’s cushioned header presented him with the chance.
• In stoppage time Taylor was brought down time by Louis Thompson who was issued with a second yellow card and dismissed. Aasgaard stepped up and curled a superb free-kick from 22 yards, over the wall and into the top corner.
• Latics are now in 17th place and Stevenage in 15th place in the League One table.

Shaun Maloney made four changes from FA Cup victory at Mansfield with James Carragher, Silko Thomas, Joe Hungbo and new signing Will Goodwin coming into the starting line-up in place of Jason Kerr, Michael Olakigbe, Jonny Smith and Taylor.

Latics started strongly winning two corners, from the first Jensen Weir went close.

At the other end Kane Smith headed over a Stevenage corner. 

Aasgaard then linked up with Goodwin, the Oxford loanee missing a great opportunity when but he curled his effort high and wide of the far post.

Jamie Reid fired over and Nathan Thompson had an effort drift just wide of Sam Tickle's far post following a corner.

Tickle then made a brilliant save to deny the hosts on 26 minutes after a back pass from Will Aimson, he was quick to dive at Reid's feet before he could score.

Referee Jacob Miles was having a very poor game awarding free-kicks for innocuous challenges and then not awarding free-kicks for blatant fouls.

In a disjointed first-half the referee had been the major villain for Latics' fans.

Taylor replaced Goodwin at the break after a disappointing first half.

The visitors threatened first with Sibbick testing Murphy Cooper with a deflected effort from the edge of the box.

Latics were better at the start of the half and they went ahead on 55 minutes.  Weir's dangerous free-kick found Taylor who bundled the ball into the net at close range.

Latics were then stunned to go down to ten on 73 minutes as Weir was shown a straight red for tripping Thompson. A yellow card should've been the appropriate punishment.

Maloney's men had to reorganise, make substitutions and change formation. They retreated into a more defensive formation.

Stevenage took advantage and equalised nine minutes later as Kemp volleyed past Tickle from just inside the box.

Latics played on the break and Aasgaard tested Cooper from 25-yards with a free-kick as the game went into eight minutes of added time.

In stoppage time Taylor broke forward and was brought down time by Louis Thompson who was issued with a second yellow card and dismissed. 

Aasgaard coolly stepped up and curled a superb free-kick from 22 yards, over the wall and into the top corner to the delight of the Tics fans behind the goal.

Overview

This game was so nearly spoiled by an incompetent referee. Jacob Miles was clearly out of his depth refereeing a League One fixture. His decision-making was erratic and very confusing to everyone watching. 

His decision to issue a straight red card to Weir for a yellow card offence could've resulted in an undeserved defeat for Latics.

Fortunately this didn't happen as Thelo Aasgaard once again produced a moment of the highest quality curling a superb free-kick into the top corner of the net.

Aasgaard's stock is rising and his recent performances will have alerted more clubs  about his value.

It would be great to think he will stay with Latics for a little longer. An improved contract to tempt him wouldn't go amiss.

Post match comments

Speaking to the media post-game, Maloney expressed that the win was purely down to the effort and mentality of his players.

"Every time we come here, it's eventful," Maloney smiled.

"It's a massive win for us. The fans could sense that with our reaction at the end.

"We had to dig in when we went down to ten men. They scored and Thelo (Aasgaard) then produced another big moment. Dale (Taylor) and Thelo were the standouts for us. 

"The rest of the team were brilliant. Up until the sending off, I really liked the second half.  That was down to the players – they knew what we had to do and they showed great bravery.

"These types of games are what we struggled with last year. Today was tough – and what the players showed me was incredible. The players deserve everything."

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