Improving Latics held by promotion-chasing Wrexham – Wigan Athletic 0 Wrexham 0

13/04/2025 03:00

• Wigan Athletic and promotion-chasing Wrexham fought out a goalless draw at the Brick Community Stadium.
• Latics' most dangerous player Asamoah Jr curled an effort just wide of the far post in a largely uneventful first half.
• With both defences on top neither side managed a shot on target in the first half.
• Wrexham had an early shout for a penalty in the second half when Ryan Longman’s cross hit Luke Robinson but referee Adam Herczeg waved away appeals.
• Latics gradually started to threaten and the impressive Asamoah Jr burst past his markers and went through on goal, but his shot was saved by Arthur Okonkwo when he might have squared the ball to Dale Taylor in a good position.
• Later Jensen Weir played in Owen Dale but the winger's shot was easily saved by the Wrexham goalkeeper. Jon Mellish then fired a dangerous low ball across the six-yard box but it just evaded Taylor.
• Wrexham forced a series of corners but Latics once again defended resolutely and they were able to secure another point in their quest for League One safety.
• Latics move up to 17th place and Wrexham remain in second place in League One.

Latics Head coach Ryan Lowe made two changes from the draw with Exeter City with Baba Adeeko and Jon Mellish replacing Scott Smith and Harry McHugh.

In a cagey opening period, in front of the Sky tv cameras, neither team looked like scoring.

Latics were the first to threaten as Mellish found space inside the box and had two efforts blocked as did Taylor. 

Asamoah Jr then cut inside and curled an effort wide in the 20th minute before Will Aimson tried his luck from distance with a strike that was narrowly wide of the far post.

George Dobson fired high and wide for the visitors with Sam Tickle relatively untroubled in the first half.

Wrexham started the second half strongly, but it was Latics who had a big chance to take the lead on 65 minutes as Asamoah Jr burst past his markers down the right and fired a shot straight at Arthur Okonkwo when squaring for Taylor may have been the better option.

Latics created another opportunity soon afterwards as Asamoah Jr cleverly turned the ball around the corner before Jensen Weir played in Dale, but he shot tamely at Okonkwo.

Latics were in the ascendancy now and they created another chance when Jon Mellish squared the ball across the six-yard box but the ball evaded Taylor.

Wrexham forced a series of corners but when required Latics defended resolutely. 

The visitors made some attacking substitutions with Steven Fletcher, Elliot Lee, Ryan Barnett and Jack Marriott all being introduced but Latics held firm and deservedly gained another valuable point as they seek League One safety.

Overview

This was a decent performance by Lowe's men against a team going for automatic promotion. 

Latics once again defended very well and limited Wrexham to very few chances. In fact the visitors didn't manage a strike on target all afternoon.

Latics pacey forward Asamoah Jr looked the most dangerous player on the pitch and with a bit more composure could've broken the deadlock. 

The hosts created several good goalscoring opportunities but as throughout most of the season poor finishing had let them down.

A clear priority for next season must be acquiring the fire power to mount a promotion push. 

Success will only come if the Latics board back Lowe with the resources to recruit strikers with a proven goalscoring record in League One.

Post match comments 

Head coach Lowe said his side had produced a positive performance with plenty to build on.

"I think we deserved to win," he told the media.

"I thought we handled their pressure very well. They do go back to front, but also with a bit of quality. 

"We nullified their strengths and just needed to have more composure and quality at the top end of the pitch. I can't fault the lads – the win is coming. If we would have won the game one-or-two nil, there would have been no complaints. 

"In the last two games, we've seen better performances with the ball. We want to be a bit better and I've asked them to be a bit more braver.

"We've had a tough week – we've been Leyton Orient, Exeter and now here. I thought the lads were excellent."

Player ratings

NB The Asamoah Jr 'WhoScored' rating seems unreasonably harsh as he was the most dangerous player on the pitch.