By @LaticsOfficial

Luke Chambers' first professional goal and a second half Josh Magennis strike proved the difference as Latics gatecrashed Champions Portsmouth promotion party.

  • Match Report | Portsmouth 1-2 Latics
  • Luke Chambers' first professional goal and a second half Josh Magennis strike for Latics.
  • Kusini Yengi pulled a goal back late on.

PORTSMOUTH 1

Yengi 85'

LATICS 2

Chambers 22'
Magennis 83'

Attendance: 20,202 (526 away)

Wigan Athletic dampened champions Portsmouth's celebration party after an entertaining 2-1 victory at Fratton Park in our final away game of the season.

Latics took a deserved first half lead through Luke Chambers' first professional goal after Jonny Smith had earlier struck the woodwork in an impressive showing against the EFL League One Champions.

Josh Magennis added a second seven minutes from the end cooly slotting home when on one one. Kusini Yengi responded instantly for the hosts bundling home a goal back, but Latics held on thanks to a couple of wonderful late saves from Sam Tickle to secure another scalp over one of the top six.

Shaun Maloney made two changes to his starting XI following the win over Lincoln City as Liam Morrison and Luke Chambers came in for Jason Kerr and Tom Pearce who both dropped to the bench. Former Tic, Callum Lang started for Portsmouth.

The hosts were in party mode as Latics respectfully gave Portsmouth a guard of honour after they were crowned EFL League One champions in midweek and John Mousinho's men started on the front foot.

Steven Sessegnon had to be alert inside the first few minutes as he stepped across to stop Christian Saydee's driving run into the penalty area.

Then there was a great opportunity for the home side on six minutes as a loose back pass sent Colby Bishop in clear with Sam Tickle well off his line. Thankfully for Latics, Bishop fired his effort well wide from 40 yards out.

Latics came closest to breaking the deadlock 12 minutes in as Jonny Smith cut in from the right and fired a shot at goal from 25 yards which beat goalkeeper Will Norris, but could not beat the near post as the ball annoyingly bounced off it.

Maloney’s men started to control the game and took a deserved lead on 22 minutes through Chambers’ first goal for the club. Smith crossed from the right to Thelo Aasgaard whose header back across goal found Baba Adeeko, he laid the ball off to Chambers who took a touch and fired low into the corner, via a slight deflection.

Latics continued to knock the ball round with confidence with Matt Smith taking the ball in a tight area and finding Chambers in an inside position. Our goal-scorer threaded through Martial Godo, but Sean Raggett stepped across before Godo could get his shot away.

There was a huge chance for Latics to double our lead three minutes before the end as Kelman shot at goal. Norris beat the ball away and Chambers could only fire the rebound into the side netting.

The hosts came out for the second half on the front foot with Paddy Lane’s effort deflecting off Chambers wide. At the right end Chambers was involved again this time crossing for Adeeko whose header was blocked by Connor Ogilvie with just the goalkeeper to beat.

Two substitutes then combined as Tom Pearce fed Magennis down the left, but Norris scrambled at his feet to deny the Northern Irishman.

Sean Raggett then tested Tickle from distance with our number one beating the ball away and easily clutching Joe Rafferty’s headed rebound.

Tickle rescued Latics 12 minutes from the end as he did brilliantly to divert Marlon Pack’s curling effort away before somehow denying Rafferty with his feet with the rebound.

Latics thought they had put the game beyond any doubt seven minutes from the end as substitute Chris Sze nodded the ball on to Magennis who held off the defender and cooly slotted the ball home through the legs of Norris.

But Portsmouth pulled one back a minute later as Pack’s effort was superbly clawed out of the air by Tickle, but Yengi was there a yard out to tap home.

Pack and Scott Smith were then involved in a scuffle as both sets of coaching staff got involved before Tickle somehow denied Pompey right at the death with a quite brilliant save low to his left from a Myles Peart-Harris header.

Latics looked to put the game to bed deep into injury time, but Aasgaard could only find the side netting. It didn't matter mind as it was another big scalp for Shaun Maloney's young troops!

Portsmouth: Norris, Rafferty, Raggett, Shaughnessy, Ogilvie, Moxon, Pack, Kamara, Saydee, Lang, Bishop

Subs: Macey, Yengi, Sparkes, Anjorin, Lane, Peart-Harris, Evans

Wigan: Tickle, Sessegnon, Hughes, Morrison, Chambers, Adeeko, Smith, Smith, Aasgaard, Godo, Kelman

Subs: Pearce, Amos, Kerr, McManaman, Smith, Sze, Magennis