Callum Lang brings cutting edge as Wigan move closer to survival

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Wigan’s 2-0 victory over Crewe on Saturday saw the Latics take a giant stride towards survival in League One and while he didn’t get on the scoresheet himself, Callum Lang’s threat was evident as Leam Richardson’s men comfortably took all three points.

Having come through the youth ranks at Liverpool, the 22-year-old joined Wigan in 2013 and has spent the last few years out on loan at the likes of Morecambe, Oldham, Shrewsbury and most recently, Motherwell.

Lang spent the first half of this season in Scottland scoring five times, including in the Europa League qualifying rounds. Wigan then decided to recall the striker back in January and that has turned out to be an inspired decision.

What looked like another dismal chapter in the club’s recent history has been sparked into life since ‘Langy’s’ return, with Saturday’s win the culmination of a brilliant week that has seen the Latics claim nine points out of nine and move four points clear of the drop zone.

The takeover by Bahraini-led group Phoenix 2021 Limited has secured the future of the club and now the side’s League One future is on the right track as confidence is high in the camp.

Lang has grabbed eight goals since coming back in January and is the team’s top scorer in this campaign, despite missing the first three months of the campaign.

He didn’t add to this tally on Saturday but played an important role as Wigan looked to secure a third consecutive win.

The forward started on the right of a front three with Joe Dodoo leading the line and Viv Solomon-Otabor on the opposite flank. Wigan’s number 17 was in fantastic form and constantly got at the Crewe defence, aiming to create chances for his partners upfront.

The match could have gone very differently for Lang. He was adjudged to have fouled Crewe players four times by the referee which was causing great frustration among the Wigan coaching staff in particular.

The Scouser could have let his frustration get the better of him but to his credit, he got on with his game and tried to make a positive impact.

Chances came at a premium for the Wigan striker with only a difficult header wide to show for his first-half efforts but a lot of good work was coming off the ball.

Harry Pickering is probably regarded as the best left-back in the division and will be playing Championship football next season with Blackburn Rovers but on Saturday he struggled to get up and join in the Crewe attack, largely due to Lang’s threat and positioning.

The full-back knew that if he went charging forward and left gaps then Crewe would be exposed and Lang was well capable of punishing them.

On one of the few occasions he broke free, that’s exactly what happened. The Latics’ number nine pounced upon a loose ball in the middle of Crewe’s half and started running at the defence. Unbelievably, Crewe’s defence parted like the Red Sea, giving Lang oceans of space to run into.

Baring down on the goalkeeper and with goal number nine for the campaign surely on its way, Omar Beckles brought the forward down and was given a red card for his troubles. Lee Evans converted the penalty and the three points were on the way.

Moments like that can be the difference in survival and relegation and Wigan’s star man brought the impetus needed just as the game was beginning to drift.

The club will be hoping that under new ownership they can survive this season and start to push on in the next campaign and try to return to the Championship. On the evidence of the past five months, Lang could be the man to spearhead that goal.

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