Windswept and woeful Wigan Latics – Wigan Athletic 0 Leyton Orient 2

12/08/2024 06:22 AM

• Wigan Athletic produced one of their worst performances of the season when they slumped to a 2-0 defeat against Leyton Orient at the Brick Community Stadium.
• In extremely windy conditions Latics failed to fire against the well-drilled visitors.
• Orient went ahead just before half-time when Dan Agyei got away from marker Will Aimson and crossed for Jayden Sweeney to slot home.
• Latics rarely threatened in the second half but they went close to an equaliser when Steven Sessegnon’s shot was parried but Jensen Weir couldn’t get to the rebound.
• Orient sealed the three points in stoppage time when Diallang Jaiyesimi took advantage of a mix-up between Toby Sibbick and Sam Tickle to roll the ball into an empty net.
• Latics drop to 18th and Orient move up to 16th place in the League One.

Shaun Maloney made five changes from the defeat at Huddersfield with Steven Sessegnon, Baba Adeeko, Scott Smith, Dion Rankine and Silko Thomas all coming into the starting line-up.

In very windy conditions both teams started in tentative mode.

The first opportunity fell to Latics when Dion Rankine down the right, pulled the ball back to Scott Smith on the edge of the area, but he couldn't keep his shot down. 

Orient threatened when Sonny Perkins nearly met Jayden Sweeney’s low cross at the far post.

Tickle then did well to deny Ollie O'Neill who was played through on goal.

The visitors took the lead four minutes before the break. Agyei broke clear of Aimson and crossed for Sweeney to finish from close range.

Silko Thomas and Baba Adeeko were replaced by Callum McManaman and Thelo Aasgaard as Latics tried to get back in the game.

Latics went close when Sessegnon curled an effort towards goal from just inside the box. Goalkeeper Josh Keeley spilled the ball and Weir was denied a tap in by Sweeney at the back post.

Substitute and former Latic loanee Charlie Kelman had a great chance to seal the three points when he was played clean through, but he could only fire wide.

Aasgaard tried his luck from distance in added time, but his effort drifted just wide.

The visitors did seal the three points when in stoppage time a mix up between Sibbick and Tickle saw Jaiyesimi nip in to roll the ball into the empty net. 

Overview

This was an abject performance by Maloney's men.

Latics were missing several players due to injury and the conditions were difficult but this is no excuse for a desperately disappointing display.

Going forward they once again lacked any cutting edge. Striker Dale Taylor was isolated and had to drop deeper and deeper to pick up the ball.

Silko Thomas rarely beat his marker, Rankine briefly threatened before having to be withdrawn due to injury. 

Substitutes McManaman, Aasgaard and Jonny Smith huffed and puffed but couldn't make an impact.

Latics midfielders Scott Smith and Adeeko looked out of their depth. 

The normally reliable Latics defence also looked out of sorts with Aimson easily turned for the first goal and Sibbick and Tickle at fault for the second goal.

Latics young team look increasingly tired and jaded and they risk slipping into the relegation zone. 

Maloney now has to quickly re-energise his players and find the solutions to this extremely worrying slump in performances .

After Tuesday's Vertu Trophy tie at Chesterfield, they have the small matter of a local derby at Bolton to contend with.

Post match comments 

Speaking to the media, Maloney felt his side dipped below their usual standards, particularly in their own defensive third. 

"In the first half hour, the game was absolutely fine," he said.

"The last 15 minutes of the first half became 50/50 – there wasn't much in it and then they scored their goal which was really disappointing.

"The second half never felt like it got going for us. We might've had more possession but we never looked that threatening. 

"It felt similar to Huddersfield at times, where we can have a lot of possession and get into certain areas, and we're struggling in the final third.

"We conceded two really bad goals from our point of view. The second is horrific from that part of our defence.

"The first is just as bad for me in terms of the basics of defending. It felt like there was nothing in the game, and two really poor goals were the reason why I'm standing here not talking about a 0-0.

"We can get into the final third as many times as we want, but we look like we are struggling in the final third.

"The players were brilliant for me for three games. Huddersfield felt slightly different, and the second half today was as poor as we've played for a while.

"It will always be on me. It's up to me to get the right balance in the team. I'm running out of patience – we're here to win and we have to be an attacking threat.

"When we're not, I expect our defensive line to be a lot stronger than what they were today."

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