Lacklustre Latics undone by the Brewers – Wigan Athletic 1 Burton Albion 2

Today at 05:39 AM

• Wigan Athletic produced a desperately disappointing display and were defeated 2-1 by League One’s bottom club Burton Albion at the Brick Community Stadium.
• Latics went ahead on 32 minutes when Thelo Aasgaard finished well after a great through ball from Dale Taylor.
• The visitors equalised almost immediately when Rumarn Burrell's shot was saved by Sam Tickle and the rebound fell to Jon Dadi Bodvarsson who fired home from close range.
• On the hour mark the Brewers took the lead when Owen Dodgson supplied Burrell, who found the back of the net.
• The hosts tried to respond and went close when Taylor hit the post and Jon Mellish had a goal bound shot blocked before he fired high and wide of the target.
• Latics remain in 17th place and Burton move off the bottom of the table to 23rd place.

Shaun Maloney made six changes to the starting line-up from the win at Stevenage. Jason Kerr returned while new signings Jon Mellish and Ollie Norburn made their first Latics starts.

In attack, Michael Olakigbe, Jonny Smith and Dale Taylor all returned to the starting line-up.

In a rather subdued atmosphere at the Brick Latics started slowly.

Latics first real chance came on 18 minutes when Taylor got on the end of Jonny Smith's cross but his header didn't have the pace to trouble the Burton keeper Max Crocombe.

Norburn then had a shot blocked before Aasgaard gave Latics the lead on 32 minutes.

Taylor played a great through ball and Aasgaard raced on to the pass and his low strike went into the corner, via the hand of Crocombe.

The visitors responded almost immediately as straight from the restart Sam Tickle denied Burrell with a point-blank save only for Bodvarsson to follow up and volley the rebound into the net.

1-1 at half-time with Latics looking lethargic and Burton growing in confidence.

Maloney would need to have strong words with his players at the interval.

But it was the visitors who started the second half confidently and Will Aimson had to come to Latics rescue on 53 minutes as a Burton counter attack led to Charlie Webster racing into the box and feeding JJ McKiernan, but a combination of first Jason Kerr and then Aimson stopped the visitors from taking the lead.

Taylor was then denied as Ryan Sweeney blocked his goal bound effort, but it was a quick counter attack that gave Burton the lead.

Owen Dodgson found space on the left and he crossed for Burrell who found the back of the net from inside the box.

Taylor was then denied by the outside of the post after a cross from substitute Silko Thomas found him and his reverse shot hit the woodwork before Mellish's goal bound effort was blocked and his subsequent effort was high and wide.

Latics huffed and puffed but lacked the creativity to penetrate the Brewers’ defence. 

Another unsatisfactory performance by Maloney's men at the Brick Community Stadium.

Overview

This was a desperately disappointing display by Latics against a well organised Burton Albion.

Latics had a great opportunity to move up the table against the three teams below them in the table, but they have fallen at the first hurdle against the bottom club in League One.

They struggled to create many clear-cut chances and only rarely threatened. The team's build up play was far too slow and predictable and it is easy for the opposition to get into formation and nullify any attacking threat. The players currently seem afraid to make forward passes and to take risks going forward. 

Several of the players looked jaded and the new signings Ollie Norburn and Jon Mellish struggled to make a significant impact.

Latics wingers of Michael Olakigbe, Jonny Smith and their substitutes Joe Hungbo and Silko Thomas had limited impact and failed to get many crosses into the box.

Gary Bowyer's Burton deserve credit as they were well organised defensively and were dangerous on the counter attack.

Latics once again underperformed at their home Stadium, they have now not won at home since the 26th of November, and the natives are growing restless.

Maloney will be expecting a big improvement from his players against Bristol Rovers at the Brick on Saturday.

Post match comments

Speaking post-match, Maloney was frustrated that his side could not build on their growing momentum and addressed the importance of improving their form on home soil in the coming weeks. 

"We scored an amazing goal, but within a really quick time, conceded a really avoidable goal,” he told the media.

"We had four players in the box defending one, and we didn't defend the box right. Overall, the feeling is a big disappointment. 

"We respect the opponent, but coming off the back of two brilliant results, we wanted to build momentum to try and move up the league. I'm disappointed with how we defended the box. 

"We lost our way with the ball at 1-1, when we really didn't need to. Burton are very well organised, and space was really limited.”

On the home form, Maloney said:

"I have to reflect on this. I need to get something right with the home support.

"The support they've given the Club since I've been here has been incredible. We've had two amazing results on the road, and our away form is really strong. 

"I need to get it better here. There are lots of things within it – because at the moment, we have to make it harder to play here.

"It's such a big game coming up against Bristol Rovers. We have to change parts of our performance at home.”

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