By @LaticsOfficial

LATICS BEATEN 2-0 BY READING AT THE SELECT CAR LEASING STADIUM.

  • Match Report | Reading 2 Latics 0
  • Femi Azeez and Sam Smith with the Reading goals.
  • Latics will look to bounce back to winning ways against Derby County on Boxing Day.

READING 2

Azeez 34'
Smith 50'

LATICS 0

Attendance: 11,772 (405 away)

Wigan Athletic will look to bounce back to winning ways on Boxing Day following a 2-0 defeat to Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Latics started well, but Femi Azeez put the home side ahead 11 minutes before the break as he unleahsed a half volley from the edge of the box which found the corner. Five minutes into the second half and Sam Smith then doubled Reading's lead after poking home a cross from the right. 

Callum McManaman had a big chance to get Latics back in the game mid-way through the second half, but his effort was saved by David Button when one-on-one and that was to be the best it got on a dissapointing afternoon for Latics.

Manager Shaun Maloney made five changes from our last league outing. Harry McHugh came in for his first Latics league start along with Liam Morrison, Liam Shaw, McManaman and the returning Charlie Wyke. Charlie Hughes missed out through illness, whilst Kell Watts, Baba Adeeko, Jonny Smith and Stephen Humphrys all dropped to the substitutes bench with a busy run of festive fixtures on the horizon. Steven Sessegnon made his 100th career appearance.

After withstanding some early pressure, Latics began to grow into the game. McManaman was released following a lovely pass down the right, and his cross was cut out by a Reading man before Wyke could pounce.

Latics threatened again on 10 minutes as a long throw into the box was met at the back post by Morrison, but his header back across goal was just about cleared away by the Reading defence.

Button came to the home sides rescue moments later as a Jordan Jones ball into the box was helped towards goal by Wyke, but the Reading number one did just enough to keep it out.

At the other end, Morrison came to Latics rescue as he blocked Azeez’s effort after the dangerman was played clean through.

Azeez wasn’t to be denied on 34 minutes as the ball fell to him on the edge of the box and he fired a half volley into the corner to give Reading the lead.

On the stroke of half time Wyke had a big chance as Shaw’s cross from the right was met by our number nine, but he headed the ball wide from 15 yards when free in the box.

The first real phase of play in the second half resulted in Reading’s second goal. A cross from the right from Amadou Mbendue saw Smith nip in front of the Latics’ defence and poke the ball into the corner.

Latics had a glorious chance to get back into the game on 58 minutes as McManaman stole the ball off the defender, but after bearing down on goal, his effort was saved by Button before Wyke’s rebound was blocked and cleared away.

Callum Lang then curled a free-kick just wide of Button’s near post before Maloney made three changes in quick succession as Jonny Smith, Humphrys and Chris Sze all came on looking to give Latics a foothold back in the game.

Smith and Sze looked lively and the latter got in behind the Reading defence before cutting the ball back to Lang, but his effort was blocked.

Smith then flashed an effort well wide before Jordan Jones did likewise in added time and that was to be the last meaningful action.

Maloney's men will look to respond when we welcome Derby County to the DW Stadium on Boxing Day.

Reading: Button, Mbengue, Holmes, Abbey, Dorsett, Azeez, Craig, Wing, Mukairu, Knibbs, Smith

Subs: Mola, Elliott, Savage, Ehibhatiomhan, Joel Pereira, Bindon, Vickers

Wigan: Tickle, McHugh, Clare, Morrison, Sessegnon, Smith, Shaw, Jones, Lang, McManaman, Wyke

Subs: Watts, Humphrys, Amos, Smith, Sze, Adeeko, Magennis