Thelo Aasgaard’s brilliant strike was enough to secure a valuable League One victory for Wigan over Reading at the DW Stadium.
Wigan had threatened first when Martial Godo spun just inside the penalty area, but aimed his shot too close to goalkeeper David Button.
Wigan were indebted to Sean Clare for throwing himself into the path of a goalbound shot from Harvey Knibbs, who had been teed up by Sam Smith.
But it was the home side who took the lead on 32 minutes, with Aasgaard bending a magnificent right-footed strike into the corner of the net from the edge of the box.
On-loan Fulham winger Godo was unable to run off his problem and was replaced by Stephen Humphrys.
Centre-back Liam Morrison, on loan from Bayern Munich, replaced Wigan captain Josh Magennis early in the second half and he immediately tested Button with a firm header from a corner.
It was almost 2-0 when Matt Smith led a two-on-two break and decided to chip the goalkeeper from 35 yards, with Button just about getting back and clawing the ball behind for a corner.
Reading almost levelled late on, only for Sam Tickle to parry Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan’s fierce drive, and then regain his feet quickly to push the ball away from the danger zone.
Report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Wigan
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Tickle
- 7Clare
- 6Hughes
- 24Chambers
- 5S SessegnonBooked at 90mins
- 8SmithSubstituted forShawat 77′minutes
- 26Adeeko
- 14Jones
- 17GodoSubstituted forHumphrysat 38′minutesBooked at 69mins
- 28MagennisSubstituted forMorrisonat 60′minutes
- 10AasgaardSubstituted forMcManamanat 77′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Morrison
- 9Wyke
- 11Humphrys
- 12Amos
- 16Shaw
- 18Smith
- 20McManaman
Reading
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Button
- 17Yiadom
- 24Bindon
- 3Holmes
- 20DorsettSubstituted forMolaat 60′minutes
- 36CraigSubstituted forSavageat 60′minutesBooked at 88mins
- 11Azeez
- 29Wing
- 7Knibbs
- 12MukairuSubstituted forEhibhatiomhanat 80′minutes
- 10Smith
Substitutes
- 2Mola
- 5McIntyre
- 8Savage
- 15Ehibhatiomhan
- 22Castro Pereira
- 27Mbengue
- 42Vickers
- Referee:
- Tom Reeves
- Attendance:
- 9,103
Live Text
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Match ends, Wigan Athletic 1, Reading 0.
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Second Half ends, Wigan Athletic 1, Reading 0.
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Foul by Sam Smith (Reading).
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Jordan Jones (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Stephen Humphrys (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
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Steven Sessegnon (Wigan Athletic) is shown the yellow card.
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Foul by Tyler Bindon (Reading).
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Liam Shaw (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Tyler Bindon (Reading).
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Jordan Jones (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Harvey Knibbs (Reading).
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Sam Tickle (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan (Reading) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Sam Smith with a headed pass.
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Offside, Wigan Athletic. Steven Sessegnon is caught offside.
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Foul by Tyler Bindon (Reading).
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Callum McManaman (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Charlie Savage (Reading) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Charlie Savage (Reading).
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Sean Clare (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Harvey Knibbs (Reading) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan with a cross.
