Wigan 0-3 Charlton: Match Report

20 February 2015 10:01

Addicks lick Latics

Struggling Wigan's worrying home woes continued as Charlton recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory at the DW Stadium to enhance their own survival prospects in the Sky Bet Championship.

Latics have not won on home soil in six months and their bid to stave off relegation from the took another serious blow as the Addicks claimed all three points to leave their 23rd-placed hosts deep in the mire.

The visitors, who beat Brentford on Valentine's Day, had not won back-to-back fixtures since August but they ended that long wait in style as goals from Frederic Bulot, Igor Vetokele and substitute Chris Eagles moved them into the top half of a congested division.

Malky Mackay's side had hoped to build on the midweek win over Reading but it was a case of one step forward, two steps back in a damaging defeat which also saw William Kvist and Leon Clarke forced off with injuries, the latter departing in a neck brace.

Mackay's new-look Latics initially appeared to have accrued plenty of confidence from the Tuesday night success over Reading as they started with a swagger missing from too many DW Stadium performances this term.

Marc-Antoine Fortune was denied by Addicks stopper Stephen Henderson at his near post and the keeper had to swipe at Clarke's header from the resulting corner as the hosts began on top.

Sheyi Ojo's cross was then glanced wide by Fortune but, against the run of play, the visitors claimed a 17th-minute lead on the break.

Tony Watt instigated the move and while Kvist's sliding intervention prevented the ball from reaching Vetokele, Bulot picked up the pieces and shifted past James Perch before beating Ali Al Habsi at his near post with a left-footed drive.

Mackay's problems continued to mount up with Kvist, hurt during Bulot's opener, and Clarke both being taken off with injuries inside the opening 34 minutes.

Clarke, who appeared to have fallen awkwardly, was taken off on a stretcher following a lengthy delay which resulted in 10 minutes of first-half stoppage time and, just 68 seconds into that period, Charlton doubled their lead.

Again Latics squandered possession in their own half and again Bulot found space down the left channel, with the Gabon international this time standing up a cross for Vetokele, who met the ball between three Wigan defenders to direct his header into the far corner.

In the second period Guy Luzon's side continued to carry a threat on the break and Vetokele breezed past both Jason Pearce and Andrew Taylor before Al Habsi just did enough to stop the 11-goal striker dinking the ball over him.

Vetokele continued to thrive and his clever back-heeled flick really should have been converted by Watt, who placed his try wide from 12 yards.

Henderson had little to do at the other end but he did push Harry Maguire's header away from danger after Perch's shanked shot found the on-loan defender.

James McClean was moved into a central role but he could not find the target with either his left boot or his head as the rain poured down in Lancashire.

Wigan's misery was completed by a former Bolton player as debutant Eagles swept home another counter-attacking move in the 88th minute to a chorus of boos.




Source: PA