REPORT: Wigan 2-1 Millwall - Southwark News (2024)

MILLWALL’S play-off hopes suffered a huge blow as they were beaten 2-1 by relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.

The Latics knew that they would need to win or draw to avoid relegation to League One, and they started off perfectly as Will Keane’s effort put them in front in the 14th minute.

Gary Rowett’s men struck back on the half-hour mark as Callum Styles played Tom Bradshaw into the box to set up George Saville, who tucked a close-range strike into the back of the net to level the scores.

Wigan looked the better side after the break despite a brief period around the hour-mark where the Lions threatened in the final third. The hosts got what they deserved with six minutes to go as substitute Thelo Aasgard tucked Callum Lang’s ball into the net, handing his side all three points as Millwall suffered consecutive defeats.

Match details

With Wigan’s Championship future on the line, the hosts needed a fast start. They worked at frustrating Millwall, but capitalised in the 14th minute when Callum Lang picked up the ball down the right, crossing into the box with pace. It deflected up towards Will Keane inside the box, allowing him to swivel and fire a powerful shot into the net to make it 1-0.

The Latics came again with Lang and Keane, but neither were able to take advantage. They had the Lions on the roped, with the home crowd fully behind their team. They surged forward in the 21st minute in search of a second goal, with Lang weaving his way through on goal before poking the ball just wide of the post.

It took a while for the visitors to wake up, but they sprung into life bang on the half-hour mark. Callum Styles, making his first start since January 21st, played Tom Bradshaw into the box down the left. The striker was able to cut it back to George Saville, who bundled the ball over the line from point-blank range to level the scores.

They had the chance to take the lead four minutes before half-time when Danny McNamara broke down the right, deceiving Wigan’s back line by rushing right towards the corner flag. His powerful cross was aimed towards Bradshaw, who let it run towards Styles, but the Hungarian international failed to get a touch on it.

Bookings for Styles and Scott Malone made it difficult for Millwall to maintain any momentum, with Wigan having the last chance of the first half. James McClean had a chance to deliver the ball into the box from a free-kick on the right side of the box as added time was announced, but he went for goal instead, curling his shot miles over the bar.

The hosts were unfortunate not to lead in the opening seconds of the second half when McClean smacked a shot off Billy Mitchell for a corner. Wigan continued to threaten but were unable to prod the ball past George Long as Millwall grew into the game.

Five minutes after the restart, a somewhat sluggish counter from the Lions almost ended with a moment of magic when Jamie Jones had to tip Zian Flemming’s acrobatic effort over the bar. Jake Cooper was clearly fouled from the resulting corner, but once again, nothing was given.

Wigan realised that they had nothing to lose. Ultimately, a draw did them as little good as it did for Millwall, so they tried to open the game up with a free-flowing, attacking style of play. The Lions made it far too easy for them and opted for a direct approach that did next to nothing to get them up the pitch.

Gary Rowett looked to change things up with 20 minutes to go by bringing on Romain Esse and Duncan Watmore for Bradshaw and Styles, shifting Oliver Burke up front. It did little to change the game, however, as Wigan came inches away from scoring through Keane, who fired wide from close range before the flag was raised for offside.

The Latics may have felt unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty after Lang was brought down in the box. Referee Bobby Madley looked to blow for a penalty, but instead pointed for a corner. Jack Whatmough was upended as it was delivered in, but the referee waved play on yet again.

It was Wigan who struck late on to win it, however. Romain Esse saw his volley blocked on the edge of the area, with Keane picking it up with a sumptuous touch to bring the ball into the Millwall half. He set up Lang down the right, with the winger allowed far too much space to cut inside and set up substitute Thelo Aasgard, who curled the ball past Long to seal the points.

Wigan: 3-4-2-1:Jones; Rekik, Whatmough, Nyambe; Darikwa, Power, Tiehi, McClean; Lang, Keane; Magennis

Millwall: 4-2-3-1:Long; McNamara, Hutchinson, Cooper, Malone; Mitchell, Saville; Burke, Flemming, Styles; Bradshaw

Takeaways

A sickening defeat in Greater Manchester

Millwall needed to beat Wigan today. Dropping points would not be good enough, so a defeat could prove to be fatal in the play-off race.

They were nowhere near good enough. There is no covering up this performance with missed chances, the Lions simply did not do enough to beat the team sat bottom of the Championship.

It will need to be six points from their final two to stand a chance.

The wrong style

Wigan had nothing to lose in this game. They are expected to be relegated and it looks likely that it will still happen, but it gave them the license to play attractive football.

Millwall, however, played far too direct. They had no aggression or control in the game and were ultimately made to pay for sloppy defending that was so unlike them.

A really unusual performance.

Decisions, decisions, decisions…

Gary Rowett will certainly be disappointed that Millwall were not awarded a penalty this afternoon.

It’s a common theme. Jake Cooper was the man who was manhandled in the box, but once again, it was ignored.

However, Wigan certainly had one or two clear shouts of their own, so the Lions may feel somewhat fortunate too.

Photo: Millwall FC