Wigan Athletic 0-2 Luton Town: Cornick and Adebayo on target against struggling Latics

Posted by Fernande Dalal on Friday, August 30, 2024

Kolo Toure is still searching for his first win as Wigan manager as the Championship's bottom side fell to a home defeat by Luton.

The Latics went behind early on when Harry Cornick caught Steven Caulker in possession on the edge of his own box, before firing past Ben Amos.

Wigan improved as the half wore on and thought they had equalised after 25 minutes but Ashley Fletcher's header was ruled out for offside.

Luton got their second eight minutes into the second half when Elijah Adebayo finished off a flowing move for his third goal in as many games.

The win was Luton's second against Toure's side in the space of five days after they beat them in an FA Cup third-round replay, when Adebayo was also on target with a 98th-minute winner.

The visitors started on the front foot and Cornick went close with an early header from a corner which flashed wide.

But the striker was not to be denied shortly afterwards when he caught Caulker dawdling on the edge of the box, making the tackle before finding the net via a deflection to give the Hatters the lead.

It was almost two after 20 minutes but Adebayo failed to finish off a fine team move, sending his shot wide from a tight angle.

Wigan thought they were back on level terms five minutes later when Charlie Hughes' cross was headed home by Fletcher, but his celebrations were cut short by the offside flag.

The Latics kept going in their search for an equaliser, with Max Power's dangerous drilled shot turned behind, before Fletcher sent an effort over the bar.

Luton went close to doubling their lead just before the break but Gabriel Osho could not quite get on the end of Dan Potts' header across goal.

They did not have to wait long to stretch their lead after the restart when a swift break upfield was finished expertly by Adebayo into the corner.

Wigan struggled to create any meaningful chances in way of a response and the visitors almost made it three when Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu's clever dummy gave substitute Alfie Doughty space to shoot, but his effort did not trouble Amos.

Bottom-of-the-table Wigan are now winless in seven league games, with their last victory coming before the World Cup break, while Luton move up two places to seventh, only outside of the play-off spots on goal difference.

Wigan boss Kolo Toure:

"We conceded another cheap goal early on and, when that is the case, it is very difficult for you. After the first 20 minutes, I thought things got better. We were putting them under pressure, but then we conceded another cheap goal. We have to be more ruthless in both boxes.

"We did manage to score a good goal, but unfortunately it was disallowed for offside. I don't know if it was offside, it was very close, but that is the way things are going for us.

"The boys are continuing to give me everything, that is never in doubt. But individual errors are costing us any chance in games."

Luton manager Rob Edwards told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"It was a really good response after losing a week ago today after being 2-0 up. It did hurt us. The first goal in any game is really key and the second one, if you get it, makes it a little more comfortable although I never felt fully comfortable today.

"They put us under a lot of pressure and it was difficult to defend the long balls. I was delighted with the timing of the goals and thought they were really well-worked goals as well.

"The second goal was a great counter attack and the perfect weight of pass made the finish so much easier and he took it very well. It shows that we can come to difficult places and not only compete but win. I felt we limited them to very little and I'm delighted with how we defended."

Line-ups

Wigan

Formation 3-5-2

12Amos

32Hughes29Caulker16Tilt

2Nyambe8Power22Tiéhi20Azeez11McClean

10Keane23Fletcher

  • 12Amos
  • 32HughesSubstituted forAasgaardat 59'minutes
  • 29CaulkerBooked at 90mins
  • 16Tilt
  • 2Nyambe
  • 8Power
  • 22TiéhiSubstituted forNaylorat 81'minutes
  • 20AzeezSubstituted forLangat 59'minutes
  • 11McCleanBooked at 72mins
  • 10Keane
  • 23FletcherSubstituted forMagennisat 81'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Jones
  • 4Naylor
  • 5Whatmough
  • 19Lang
  • 27Darikwa
  • 28Magennis
  • 30Aasgaard

Luton

Formation 3-5-2

34Horvath

32Osho4Lockyer3Potts

2Bree18Clark20Watson17Mpanzu29Bell

7Cornick11Adebayo

  • 34Horvath
  • 32OshoSubstituted forBurkeat 63'minutes
  • 4Lockyer
  • 3PottsBooked at 77mins
  • 2Bree
  • 18ClarkBooked at 85mins
  • 20WatsonSubstituted forCampbellat 54'minutes
  • 17Mpanzu
  • 29Bell
  • 7CornickSubstituted forDoughtyat 68'minutes
  • 11AdebayoBooked at 72mins

Substitutes

  • 8Berry
  • 16Burke
  • 21Isted
  • 22Campbell
  • 23Onyedinma
  • 35Jerome
  • 45Doughty

Referee:Andy Woolmer

Attendance:11,125

Match Stats

Live Text

  • Match ends, Wigan Athletic 0, Luton Town 2.

  • Second Half ends, Wigan Athletic 0, Luton Town 2.

  • Steven Caulker (Wigan Athletic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  • Foul by Steven Caulker (Wigan Athletic).

  • Amari'i Bell (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  • Foul by Curtis Tilt (Wigan Athletic).

  • Amari'i Bell (Luton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  • Jordan Clark (Luton Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  • James McClean (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  • Foul by Jordan Clark (Luton Town).

  • Attempt missed. Josh Magennis (Wigan Athletic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by James McClean with a cross.

  • Substitution, Wigan Athletic. Tom Naylor replaces Christ Tiéhi.

  • Substitution, Wigan Athletic. Josh Magennis replaces Ashley Fletcher.

  • Daniel Potts (Luton Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  • Ashley Fletcher (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  • Foul by Daniel Potts (Luton Town).

  • Attempt missed. Alfie Doughty (Luton Town) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jordan Clark.

  • Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  • Elijah Adebayo (Luton Town) is shown the yellow card.

  • James McClean (Wigan Athletic) is shown the yellow card.

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