Wigan Athletic’s attack returned to form as they came from behind to beat Charlton Athletic

Wigan Athletic’s attacking talent enjoyed a fruitful afternoon at the DW stadium as they came from behind to beat mid-table Charlton Athletic 2-1.

Elliot Lee’s early header had put the visitors in front but a penalty from Will Keane and a goal from substitute Stephen Humphrys helped Leam Richardson’s side to all three points.

Wigan started the game with a back three, with Tendayi Darikwa and James McClean in the wing back positions. Josh Magennis was given the nod in attack with Keane playing just behind him with Callum Lang supporting.

Lang drifted in from the right-hand side throughout the match and remained close to the front two, occupying the Charlton defenders.

It all looked good on paper but Wigan started dreadfully and could consider themselves fortunate not to have been two goals down early on. Adam Matthews was given far too much room to cross and Lee was able to run into the free space and his downward header beat Ben Amos in the Wigan goal.

Some ragged defending in the box shortly after saw the ball fall to Alex Gilbey who’s left-footed effort came back off the crossbar. Wigan had gotten away with one and the anxiety was growing amongst the fans in the stadium.

Magennis, who has been coming in for some criticism on social media, had been performing a pretty selfless role given that he was having little in the way of service. The forward battled for every long ball and tried to bring others into play but the Charlton defence stood firm.

Magennis was then however involved in an incident that got the crowd going and lifted the atmosphere in the stadium. The loanee chased the ball into the box before being bundled over by a Charlton defender. It appeared the only issue would be whether or not the foul happened inside the area or not.

To the astonishment of almost everyone, the referee pointed for a goal kick and the supporters were incredulous. This seemed to spur Wigan on and it was not long before they found themselves on level terms.

Lang was buzzing around the attacking third and found himself in possession on the left-hand side of the penalty area. The Liverpool-born forward was brought down as he charged into the area and Wigan would now have their penalty.

A supporter in front of the press box had turned around and claimed he had never watched a penalty in his life. He need not have worried as Keane stepped up and calmly drilled the ball straight down the middle to make things all square.

Wigan were now playing with a lot more confidence and their appeared to be a slight tactical tweak. McClean’s strengths lie a lot more in attacking than defending and he was given license to push up higher and essentially operate as a left-winger.

Darikwa was positioned slightly further back on the opposite flank with Curtis Tilt doing a tidy job in covering for McClean defensively. Tilt himself would be involved in some good moments going forward.

This added another dimension to Wigan’s play, giving them an option out wide when so much had been going through the middle. Keane was dropping deeper to pick up the ball and try to insert some urgency which was then provided once McClean got on the ball.

The former Sunderland man has faced criticism at times in his career for his delivery from wide areas but there were no such issues on Saturday. Time after time the Irish international sent in tantalising crosses that were begging to be tapped in had a striker got on the end.

One of his more inventive crosses almost brought about a second as his chipped pass found Lang at the back post who hooked the ball across goal only for it to just evade Magennis. There were some suggestions there may have been a foul but the referee was not for budging.

McClean and Lang were on a mission to get Wigan their first win in four, driving at the Charlton defence in search of the elusive second goal.

It would arrive with 15 minutes remaining thanks to Keane’s replacement Humphrys. Max Power’s corner was headed across goal by Jason Kerr and Humphrys, who had only been on three minutes, was on hand to turn the ball into Craig McGillivray’s goal.

Lang made way in stoppage time to a deserved standing ovation as Wigan then saw out the game fairly comfortably. This is a result and performance that should restore some confidence after a couple of tricky performances.

Games in hand still remain, but it is now a two point gap over MK Dons in third. The platform is there for Wigan to push on and cement an automatic promotion spot.

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