Wigan Athletic 0-1 Wycombe Wanderers: FLW reports as Chairboys stretch lead over Birmingham City | OneFootball

The action and reaction from the DW Stadium as Wigan Athletic welcomed the league leaders Wycombe Wanderers.

Wycombe Wanderers continued their impressive winning streak by defeating Wigan Athletic 1-0 at the DW Stadium, with Joe Low's header being the only difference in Greater Manchester.

Low's goal came very early in the match - left-back Daniel Harvie took the corner, which was a perfect ball on to the head of the Welshman, who steered it past Latics stopper Sam Tickle to give Wycombe the lead after 10 minutes, his second goal of the season.

Wigan fans were irate as their side looked disjointed in possession and very passive in the opening stages. Referee Bobby Madley was also getting his fair share of stick after a few decisions didn't go the host's way.

The first sight of goal for Shaun Maloney's men came after 20 minutes. A deep free-kick went over everybody and fell to defender Will Aimson, who scuffed his shot well wide of Wycombe's goal. The hosts started to show some attacking intent, but Wanderers had answers for all the questions being asked of them.

Thelo Aasgaard then pounced on a loose ball which almost set him one-on-one with Franco Ravizzoli. Caleb Taylor had to hack the forward down to prevent a goal-scoring chance, which resulted in a yellow card for the on-loan West Brom defender. The free-kick was easily caught by the Argentine in the away net.

The end of the second half was very open, as neither team was really dominating. It was clear the visitors had taken their foot off the gas after taking the lead. Udoh forced a good save from Tickle after he broke down the left, thanks to an incredible Aaron Morley long pass.

Wigan had their best chance of the game just three minutes from half-time. A wonderful curling strike from Jonny Smith beat Ravizzoli but crashed off the underside of the crossbar.

The first half ended with the Chairboys 1-0 up. They deserved the lead off the back of the opening ten minutes, but Wigan were certainly still in the game, having rattled the bar through Jonny Smith just before half-time.

Former Wycombe striker Dale Taylor entered the fray for the hosts after half-time. The Nottingham Forest loanee replaced Matt Smith in an attacking change by Shaun Maloney.

Silko Thomas continued to threaten down Wycombe's right, but his crosses left something to be desired, as the winger was unable to find anyone to touch it home. A quick break again down the visitors' right was relayed to Luke Robinson on the overlap, but Ravizzoli gathered the low cross.

The momentum was all with the Tics early in the second period. The Chairboys were riding a storm of Wigan pressure which had begun to get the home fans behind their team once again.

Substitute Taylor then had a howler, missing from just a matter of yards out to equalise against his former side. Thomas once again got the better of Jasper Pattenden and drilled a low cross into Taylor, who somehow fired over the bar.

Captain Josh Scowen and Richard Kone were withdrawn on the hour mark, as Luke Leahy and Bez Lubala took their places. Aimson was lucky not to see red when he went in very late on Fred Onyedinma. The former Exeter defender was clearly frustrated that he gave away possession cheaply and lashed out.

Lubala was involved immediately, when he broke into the box thanks to a neat pass from Cameron Humphreys. The corner led to a shot from the man who won it, that Tickle had to parry to safety.

The only remaining Smith on the pitch, Jonny, burst down the right-hand side. His over-hit cross was collected by Thomas, who curled in an effort that was kept out by a fine save from Ravizzoli.

Brandon Hanlan made his return to League action for the first time since November last year, along with David Wheeler who had also struggled for minutes so far. They replaced Udoh and Onyedinma in a complete change to Wycombe's front three that started the match.

The whole stadium thought Aasgaard had levelled the scoring from a Toby Sibbick cross. The Norwegian had a free header from point-blank range. However, that wasn't on the Argentine goalkeeper's watch, as he produced a stunning save to keep his team ahead. Great reactions and anticipation from the stopper.

A thrilling last ten minutes were on the cards, as Wigan had the momentum but crucially, Wycombe had the lead to hold onto. There were undoubtedly a few fingernails being bitten in the away end, but the travelling faithful continued their unwavering support.

Thomas and Robinson were withdrawn with eight minutes left; on came Paul Dummett for his Wigan debut, along with Maleace Asamoah.

Ravizzoli then somehow kept out Aasgard's free header again. A truly unbelievable save from the Argentinian as he scrambled across his goal to get a glove on the attacker's header. Jack Grimmer then replaced Humphreys as Matt Bloomfield looked to secure the three points.

The referee threw Wigan a lifeline by adding seven minutes of stoppage time, which meant Wycombe had to really dig deep to keep their lead. A succession of Tics corners kept the pressure on, as the visitors had everyone camped in their own half.

Harvie got the better of Smith and broke free down WIgan's right. He squared the ball to Hanlan, who was denied by the onrushing Tickle. The Wanderers managed to hold on to make it seven successive wins and stay top of the league. An incredible feat by Bloomfield's Blues, boosted by Birmingham City dropping points against Northampton Town.

Wigan are now winless in five. Despite this, there were plenty of positives for Maloney's side to take from the defeat.

Player ratings

Wigan Athletic

S. Tickle - 7

T. Sibbick - 7 (Substituted for D. Rankine 76')

S. Kerr - 6

W. Aimson - 5

L. Robinson - 6 (Substituted for P. Dummett 83')

M. Smith - 5 (Substituted for D. Taylor 46')

S. Thomas - 8 (Substituted for M. Asamoah 83')

J. Smith - 7

S. Smith - 5 (Substituted for J. Weir 63')

T. Francois - 6

T. Aasgaard - 7

Substitutes

D. Taylor - 5

J. Weir - 6

D. Rankine - 6

P. Dummett - 6

M. Asamoah - 6

Wycombe Wanderers

Benji Walker (@benjiwalkerphoto)

F. Ravizzoli - 10

J. Pattenden - 6

C. Taylor - 7

J. Low - 8

D. Harvie - 7

A. Morley - 6

J. Scowen - 5 (Substituted for L. Leahy 60')

C. Humphreys - 7 (Substituted for J. Grimmer 85')

D. Udoh - 6 (Substituted for D. Wheeler 72')

R. Kone - 6 (Substituted for B. Lubala 60')

F. Onyedinma - 6 (Substituted for B. Hanlan 72')

Substitutes

B. Lubala - 6

L. Leahy - 6

D. Wheeler - 6

B. Hanlan - 6

J. Grimmer - 6

Shaun Maloney's reaction as Wigan Athletic fall to Wycombe

Speaking to the press after his side's narrow defeat, Wigan boss Maloney said: “In terms of performance, I can’t ask any more in terms of what we did in the second half, apart from the most important part – we have to take our chances

“It’s not the first time I’ve sat here and said that. We created more than enough in that second half, the intent completely different from the first.

“My centre-backs have been fantastic for me this season and I just needed more from them in that first half, in terms of playing forward and being aggressive, when there was space to go forward.

“They did that in that second half, and I think that was a big part of why we were so good."

Matt Bloomfield's reaction as Wycombe Wanderers winning streak rolls on

Following Wycombe's 1-0 victory at Wigan, Matt Bloomfield told the press: “I thought the desire of the defence not to concede, and a couple of great saves from Franco (Ravizzoli), were the reason we won the game.

“To go to Stockport and Wigan in the space of four days, I was a little bit fearful of how it would play out. But to come away with six points, we have to be very, very pleased.

“As well as we played in midweek, there was a lot of ‘old school Wycombe’ about this one – the spirit has remained, and the players are really running with it.”