Wigan win four in a row to take huge step towards safety zone

Wigan recorded a fourth League One win in a row to see off Shrewsbury and take another huge step towards safety.

Leam Richardson named an unchanged side from the 2-0 win against Crewe Alexandra at the DW Stadium on Saturday.

Wigan broke the deadlock after 27 minutes when Will Keane powered home a header from a Lee Evans corner.

The Latics then doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when Callum Lang sprung the offside trap before slotting home.

Shrewsbury’s Ollie Norburn volleyed the home side back into the game 25 minutes from time, before Curtis Main then hit the post for Town.

Then in added time 18-year-old Charlie Caton was denied his first Shrewsbury goal, as Wigan goalkeeper Jamie Jones produced a superb save to deny the teenager and secure the points.

Make no mistake, tonight’s events have shaken the football world to its core… #wafchttps://t.co/M8I8bFfCLb

— Paul Kendrick (@PKendrickWIG) April 20, 2021

Manager Leam Richardson was proud of the resilience of his players after they held on to record another victory.

“They are digging in. They are giving everything. Whether you win, lose or draw, I’ve always said my mantra is that if they cannot give you any more, you’re okay with most results,” he said.

 “Tonight again, to a man, even the lads on the bench, were cheering and everyone involved has dug deep and you earn that luck, and we thoroughly deserved the win.

“If they give you that much effort, desire, and application, you cannot help but be proud. We asked them months ago to try and represent certainly themselves first, and then the football club, the badge, the town, and then going forward you’ll get what you deserve, and fingers crossed we’ve got one big push to go.”

The result sees Wigan four points clear of safety with three games to go.

It caps off a fantastic ten days for the Latics, on Saturday they defeated ten man Crewe 2-0 at home thanks to goals from Joe Dodoo and Callum Lang.

The Latics also came from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1 at the DW Stadium on April 13^th.

After Charlie Wyke opened the scoring for the Black Cats goals from Will Keane and Callum Lang saw Wigan take all three points.

Wigan’s unbeaten run started at Doncaster on 10 April when they thrashed Rovers 4-1 at the Keepmoat Stadium. Goals from Joe Dodoo, Thelo Aasgaard, Viv Solomon-Otabor and Will Keane helped see off Andy Butler’s men.

Though Wigan are in a fine run of form they aren’t the only side in the relegation battle who are picking up results.

AFC Wimbledon have also won their last four and sit a point and a place above the Latics. As well as Rochdale who have won their last three and are five points behind Wigan with a game in hand.

It makes for an entertaining and nervy end to the season with only two out of the bottom six surviving.

Wigan travel to Burton on Saturday for another crucial game in their battle to beat the drop.