Easter Monday defeat at the DW.

Match Report | Wigan Athletic 0-1 Portsmouth
Andy Cannon’s goal seals the three points for the visitors
Latics enjoyed a lot of the ball and created a number of chances, but couldn’t find a breakthrough

WIGAN ATHLETIC 0

PORTSMOUTH 1
Cannon 46

Wigan Athletic were edged out 1-0 by Portsmouth in Sky Bet League One on Easter Monday, as Danny Cowley’s side took the three points at the DW Stadium.

Andy Cannon’s goal just 40 seconds into the second half was the difference between the two sides, with Latics unable to turn another performance into goals and points.

Leam Richardson named an unchanged side from the one that was beaten 1-0 by Gillingham in midweek.

The early chances were shared equally, albeit Latics had more of the ball in the early stages - Pompey's threat was seemingly on the break.

Former Latic Michael Jacobs failed to get a clean connection on Callum Johnson’s cross to steer goalwards, but before that a Pompey counter attack could have given them the lead. Jacobs again was involved to release Ryan Williams down the left hand side for a two-on-one, but his cross was inches away from the supporting Ronan Curtis to tap home.

Latics played themselves into the game and thought they had a huge opportunity to break onto Craig MacGillivray’s goal when Jamie Proctor did superbly to muscle his way past Sean Raggett to steal possession. He looked to be baring down on goal, but the play was pulled back by the referee for a foul by the striker much to the frustration of the staff watching on from the technical area.

Richardson’s side built on that moment and almost took the lead through Curtis Tilt. Thelo Aasgaard’s driving run initially put Latics into a dangerous position and won a free kick. Lee Evans took it, his cross was then deflected into the path of Tilt to stab at goal, but the central defender saw his effort roll inches wide of the far post via a Portsmouth deflection.

As the half went on, Latics were the side pressing for the opening goal of the game, but were lacking the final ball to open the scoring, which was almost punished three minutes before the break.

Marcus Harness found space down the right hand side before pulling the ball back to Williams, but his effort was brilliantly saved by Jamie Jones to ensure the score remained level at the break.

Portsmouth made a half-time change as Cannon came on in the place of Jacobs and the substitute made an instant impact when scoring within a minute of the second half starting. Cannon picked up the ball and drove towards the edge of the Latics penalty area before unleashing an effort that beat Jones and handed Pompey the lead.

Latics responded positively to going behind and forged a chance almost immediately as Callum Lang fed Viv Solomon-Otabor down the left hand side, but the latter fired his effort over the top of the Portsmouth goal from inside the penalty area.

Two minutes later, and Lang was again at the heart of it as he beat Lee Brown and drove into the Portsmouth penalty area before going down, but the penalty appeal was waved away by the referee.

Lang once more was driving Latics forward in search of a much deserved equaliser, and fired towards goal from 25 yards out, but his effort took a slight deflection en route and rolled past the far post.

Having rode the increased pressure from the home side, Portsmouth were close to hitting Latics with a sucker punch on 65 minutes. Harness found space on the right to fire a ball across the penalty area for Williams to meet, but Jones again was there to produce a brilliant save to keep Pompey’s lead to a single goal.

With Latics pushing for the equaliser, counter attacking opportunities for the away side were presenting themselves. On the back of a free-kick for Latics, Portsmouth broke quickly, and could have added a second with five Pompey attackers baring down on Jones’ goal, but Cannon chose to shoot instead of passing and fired over the bar.

With seven additional minutes added at the end of the game, Latics continued to battle in search of a goal with balls flying into the away side’s area, but Portsmouth held firm to hold on and claim a fourth consecutive victory.

Latics: Jones (Capt); Darikwa, Johnson, Tilt, Robinson, L.Evans, Ojo, Lang (Dodoo 83), Aasgaard (Keane 68), Solomon-Otabor (Gardner 79), Proctor

Subs: O.Evans, Whelan, Long, Clough

Portsmouth: MacGillivray, Raggett (Nicolaisen 82), Brown, Johnson, Whatmough, Williams, Close (White 62), Naylor, Harness (Bolton 87), Jacobs (Cannon 45), Curtis.

Subs: Ward, Daniels, Byers.

Report | Latics 0 Portsmouth 1