Wigan Athletic vs Luton Town FC (7th Mar 2020)

WIGAN ATHLETIC 0-0 LUTON TOWN

Late Sluga save earns Hatters clean sheet and point on the road

The Hatters lifted themselves off the bottom of the Sky Bet Championship with a 0-0 draw against Wigan Athletic.

Both goalkeepers were relatively untested throughout the 90 minutes until the dying embers when Simon Sluga produced an outstanding save to deny Michael Jacobs.

Town’s second away clean sheet of the season leaves them six points away from safety with nine games remaining.

Graeme Jones made one change to his starting line-up with captain Sonny Bradley returning in place of Dan Potts – who suffered an injury in the 1-1 draw against Stoke City last weekend.

Wigan’s best chance of the half came in the ninth minute when Matty Pearson produced a timely interception to stop Gavin Massey getting to the ball after Kieffer Moore had done well to keep it in play and cut back from the byline.

Town were adamant they should have been awarded a penalty with seven minutes of the half remaining when Izzy Brown’s deep free-kick evaded the reach of Pearson, who believed he was prevented from getting to the ball.

The second half began in a much more energic manner as the Hatters had a couple of opportunities in quick succession.

Brown’s free-kick was met by Bradley, who nodded across the box for Glen Rea, but his acrobatic effort was tame and easily gathered by David Marshall.

Wigan had a late chance through substitute Joe Garner but his header was gathered easily by Sluga. In added time at the end, the Croatian international then produced a brilliant save to deny Jacobs, getting down low and pushing the shot wide of the post.

Both sides were limited to just a handful of chances, nevertheless Town were happy with a point that made it three games unbeaten and just one defeat in the last six, as they look to build on the performance when they welcome Preston North End to Kenilworth Road next Saturday.

WIGAN: Marshall, Byrne, Kipre, Balogun, Naismith, Williams, Morsy (C), Lowe (Garner 81), Roberts (Pilkington 45), Massey (Jacobs 63), Moore.

Subs not used: Jones, Evans, Dobre, Mlakar

Yellows: Moore

TOWN: Sluga, Pearson, Carter-Vickers, Bradley (C), Cranie, Tunnicliffe, Rea, Mpanzu, Brown, Cornick (LuaLua 81), Collins.

Subs not used: Stech, McManaman, Berry, Hylton, Moncur, Bree

Yellows: Rea, Brown

Referee: Gavin Ward

Attendance: 10,292 (1,312 away fans)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAwSGB1g0eY – Graeme Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2UFcO2_Et8 – Match highlights

GRAEME JONES ON THE POINT AGAINST WIGAN ATHLETIC

Hatters boss Graeme Jones was ‘really satisfied’ with the well-earned point against Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium this afternoon.

The former Wigan Athletic player and assistant manager spoke to the press after the 0-0 draw which lifted the Hatters off the bottom of the Sky Bet Championship table and explained how he was delighted with aspects during the match.

“It was a deserved point,” Jones began. “Really satisfied because doing the analysis coming into the game I watched Wigan three times and they were so impressive at West Brom.

“They’ve got an unusual style but he’s [Paul Cook] got the right players playing in the right positions. They’ve been unstoppable in the last eight games and tactically we got it so right off the ball today and denied them, because they are a very effective football team.

The 49-year-old was keen to talk about goalkeeper Simon Sluga’s fantastic save in added time, saying: “I’m delighted with Simon. You can see him growing in confidence and his contribution has been huge.

“We signed him for that reason at the beginning of the season and I think nobody takes into consideration that adapting period that he’s had - but I’m delighted with where he is now because he’s responded. He’s taken responsibility but we had two or three chances with Harry which on another day he would have scored.

The manager was asked about a potential penalty in the first-half as Matty Pearson appeared to be pulled down inside the box but Jones simply replied: “We don’t get penalties you know that.

“It’s Luton, we’re not going to getting those kind of decisions, so I just spoke to the boys and we need to be above the referee. Our performance needs to be so good that we earn the win, you can’t rely on referees. They tell me it was a penalty, but I haven’t seen it back and I’ll have to have a look.”

Stunning Sluga save earns Town a point at Wigan

Championship: Wigan Athletic 0 Luton Town 0

Town keeper Simon Sluga earned his side a hard-earned point as with a quite magnificent stoppage time save at Wigan Athletic this afternoon.

A contest desperately low on quality throughout, which briefly sparked into life during the early part of the second period, had looked as though the spoils were going to be shared long before the final whistle.

They almost weren't though, as Latics sub Michael Jacobs thought he had won it once the clocked ticked into 90.

Receiving the ball inside the area, he angled a drive towards the bottom corner which had goal written all over, only for Sluga to somehow react, stick out a left glove and deflect the ball behind.

He celebrated accordingly, with referee Gavin Ward blowing the whistle soon afterwards as Luton moved off the bottom of the table again, replaced by Charlton, but dropped a point further from safety, now trailing Hull City by six.

The visitors made one change for a contest between two of the in-form teams in the division, surprising considering their lowly positions, club captain Sonny Bradley fit enough to replace the injured Dan Potts, while Kazenga LuaLua and Luke Berry returned to the bench.

The switch saw Bradley alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers in the centre of defence, with Martin Cranie moving to left back, Matty Pearson heading out to the right.

Town's newlook back-line had a let-off after 10 minutes, with some hesitant defending seeing Kieffer Moore almost take advantage, Pearson sliding in at the nick of time.

A scrappy first half then ensued, with Luton not featuring as an attacking force bar one burst on the right by Harry Cornick which saw him win a corner, while Wigan's final ball was also lacking.

Cranie's ill-judged header almost fell for Jamal Lowe, but Carter-Vickers was alert to thump clear, while Athletic's on-loan Brighton centre half Leon Balogun met Gary Roberts' in-swinging corner, only to head over.

Luton thought they should have had a penalty on the half hour as Izzy Brown swung over an excellent free kick and Pearson couldn't connect, complaining vociferously that he had been pulled back, referee Gavin Ward unmoved by the appeals.

Moore and Brown then saw yellow as the match degenerated into a bad-tempered affair, Joe Williams putting a 20-yarder volley over, while the hosts were dealt a blow when set-piece expert Roberts was forced off with a hamstring injury.

Hatters started the second period with a far higher tempo, as they at least began to gain some territory, Cornick winning two corners, while home sub Anthony Pilkington drilled a hopeful effort from distance over.

Town tried to gain the upper hand once more, Brown's free kick met by Carter-Vickers, with Rea unable to get any power on his hooked attempt while falling backwards, which ended up being the visitors only shot on target throughout the whole 90 minutes.

Cornick, who was proving more and more of a threat, then chose the wrong option, going for goal with his team-mates better placed, while he then couldn't get the better of Cedric Kipre's from Brown's flick-on, as Town went route one.

Moore was still a danger for Wigan, producing an airshot when the ball dropped to him in the area from another decent Nathan Byrne cross.

The lack of quality on display from the first period then frustratingly returned for both teams, Kai Naismith dragging wide from 20 yards out.

It was Naismith who then sent over a fine cross from the left as Joe Garner stooped to head goalwards, Sluga moving smartly to gather at his near post.

Sluga was then to prove the hero at the death, securing Town a point from Jacob's effort, as Luton picked up a second clean sheet on the road this term, also involved in their first stalemate since returning to the Championship.

Latics: David Marshall, Samy Morsy ©, Jamal Lowe (Joe Garner 81), Gavin Massey (Michael Jacobs 63), Gary Roberts (Anthony Pilkington 45), Kieffer Moore, Joe Williams, Cedric Kipre, Kai Naismith, Leon Balogun.

Subs not used: Jamie Jones, Lee Evans, Alex Dobre, Jan Mlakar.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Martin Cranie, Sonny Bradley, Matty Pearson, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Izzy Brown, Harry Cornick (Kazenga LuaLua 81), James Collins (C).

Subs not used: Marek Stech, Callum McManaman, Luke Berry, George Moncur, James Bree, Danny Hylton.

Booked: Rea 34, Moore 39, Brown 43.

Referee: Gavin Ward.

Attendance: 10,292 (1,312 Luton).

Luton chief left satisfied by 'deserved' point at Latics

Town manager thrilled with his side's off the ball work at the DW Stadium

Hatters boss Graeme Jones declared himself satisfied after his side extended their undefeated run to three games with a goalless draw at Wigan Athletic yesterday.

In a match of precious few chances, the Hatters only shot on target coming via a tame Glen Rea effort, the visitors were indebted to a superb Simon Sluga save in stoppage time to emerge with a share of the spoils.

Speaking after the game, Jones said: "It was a deserved point, I'm really satisfied.

"Doing the analysis coming into the game, I watched Wigan three times, and they were so impressive at West Brom (1-0 win).

"They've got an unusual style, he’s (Latics boss Paul Cook) got the right players, playing in the right positions and they’ve been unstoppable in their last eight games.

"Tactically we got it so right off the ball today and denied them as they are a very effective football team, so I'm really satisfied with the performance.

“We had two or three chances at the end too, with Harry (Cornick), which on another day he would have scored."

The Hatters barely featured as an attacking threat in the opening 45 minutes, but did improve somewhat after the break, with Rea's effort, plus a number of half chances for Cornick, the forward seeing one shot blocked away.

Jones continued: "I think the character got us through the first 15 minutes of the game, then we got a real understanding of Wigan off the ball and we’ve worked with three sessions on that, that’s how unconventional they are, how difficult they are to play against.

"Once it settled down we were fine, strong in the game, a strong performance.

"I asked them to better on the ball, I was disappointed with that first half, and believe we can win.

"I think we came out second half and showed that, Harry dipped a little bit physically, but Izzy Brown did fantastic to last the full game."

With Stoke hammering Hull City 5-1 and Charlton going down 1-0 at home to Middlesbrough, it meant that the although the Hatters moved up a place, they dropped a further point from safety, now trailing Hull by six.

However, Jones added: "Results are great today, but it’s about us.

"When you see a performance like that you know you’re going to get football results, I’ve got no doubt.

"So I’m just looking forward to the next three games."

Jones reveals Sluga given a round of applause by team-mates after wonder stop at Latics

Town keeper the hero as Hatters hold Wigan

Luton boss Graeme Jones revealed keeper Simon Sluga earned a round of applause from his team-mates in the changing room following his stunning save in stoppage time at Wigan Athletic this afternoon.

The Croatian international made sure Town extended their unbeaten run to three matches with a first stalemate of the campaign by wonderfully diverting Michael Jacobs’ close range strike past the post at the death.

Jones said: “He walked into the dressing room, he was the last one in, and he got an absolute round of applause off his team-mates.

“I think they certainly appreciated the moment, it’s as important as scoring a goal isn't it.

“We've been blessed in the last couple of months, we've had him in that kind of form and everybody can see him grow.

“I still think there is much more to come as he can a little bit more in terms of playing out from the back.

"His kicking was excellent again today though, I liked the way he controlled the moments where if you think back earlier in the season he was a bit more hurried with things.

“So we’ve got to keep working, he’s not achieved anything yet, standards are high, work hard every game and we'll get our rewards

“I can see James Collins doing it, who was practically a defender for the last 15 minutes, there’s real respect in there and appreciation of what Simon’s done.”

Jones had admitted he was always confident Sluga would come to Town’s rescue when Jacobs pulled the trigger, adding: “I’m optimistic, I didn’t think for one second, as we’d done too well.

"You earn your moment as well with the level of performance and I'm delighted for Simon.

“I think the crowd have always been great with Sluga, from minute one they’ve taken to him.

“As we know he took a bit of time to settle in, but he really is showing the goalkeeper that we signed now, so long may it continue.

“I’m delighted with Simon, you can see him growing in confidence, and his contributions been huge.

"We signed him for that reason at the beginning of the season and nobody takes into consideration that adapting period that he’s had.

"But we're delighted where is now, because he’s responded, he’s taken responsibility."