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Two goals from Callum Lang guided Wigan Athletic to a well-deserved win over promotion rivals Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park.
It was a fantastic performance from the visitors from the North West who won at a canter despite going behind in the first half. Tom Naylor scored their equaliser after they had trailed to the Chairboys at half-time.
Wycombe made a late change after Josh Scowen was injured in the warm-up as Chris Forino replaced him.
The opening exchanges saw a fascinating clash of styles and objectives. The away side put some very dangerous crosses into the box whereas Wanderers employed a shoot on sight policy with six off-target efforts inside 20 minutes before Wigan had their first effort of any variety.
It was a case of Lucky Seven for them when Sullay Kaikai scored a perfectly placed shot after a superb knockdown from Sam Vokes had set him up.
Wanderers had looked the hungrier side and their confidence was exemplified when goalkeeper David Stockdale took a direct shot on Ben Amos’ goal from a free-kick inside his own half.
That goal woke Wigan up. With half an hour gone, Lang finally made Stockdale work at his own end as the goalkeeper closed down the Wigan forward as he shot from an angle. Five minutes later, Will Keane hit the post with the Tics’ best effort so far. They were getting closer and closer and Wycombe only just survived till half-time with their lead intact.
Wigan were even hungrier after the break but it took nine minutes before Max Power set up Gavin Massey who became the second Wigan player to hit the post.
Eventually, Tics manager Leam Richardson decided he needed to change personnel and introduced Stephen Humphrys and Gwion Edwards on for Josh Magennis and Gavin Massey as the dividends were immediate.
Stockdale failed to hold a long-distance Power free-kick and Naylor was on hand to net the rebound. There was only going to be one winner from there and Lang’s two goals made sure the scoreline better reflected the game.
11 minutes from time, Wigan deservedly took the lead with Lang turning in a loose ball from a right-wing corner. It was a well-deserved goal that had been on the cards and the forward put the game beyond doubt two minutes later.
Wigan have now put fixtures against Rotherham, Wycombe, Oxford and Sheffield Wednesday behind them this month with Sunderland to come before March. They have gleaned 11 points in six games this month with a far easier March to come as they only have MK Dons and Plymouth Argyle to come out of the promotion chasing sides.
It was a well-deserved win for Wigan who were excellent from the moment they went a goal behind. They look to be a promotion side all the way and there are not many boxes left to ‘Tic’ for.
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