Matthew Smith secured Wigan Athletic three points with a second half goal in the Sky Bet League One clash against Shrewsbury Town at Croud Meadow.
Shrewsbury Town came into the game after a 1-1 draw at home against Barnsley. However, Wigan’s last encounter ended in a 4-2 loss away to Oxford United.
The opening chance came from Wigan Athletic just four minutes into the game. Martial Godo found a great opportunity to cross but his chance found the hands of Markos Marosi.
Six minutes later, the Latics attempted to take the lead as Sean Clarke found a gap in Shrewsbury defence. He struck the ball from just outside the box, but it went flying over the crossbar.
A chance for Shrewsbury came in the 24th minute, after a ball from Carl Winchester found Tom Bloxham in the penalty area. After a scramble, Bloxham managed slot the ball into the corner of the net but was called back for offside by the linesman.
The last effort of the first half came from the hosts, as the ball was met by Chey Dunkley who connected with his head, but the chance landed directly into the hands of Sam Tickle.
Nine minutes later, a cross from Jordan Jones found Godo who saw his headed effort go just over the woodwork.
Salop had the first opportunity in the second half, in the 48th minute. Mal Benning’s cross was found by Aaron Pierre who powered a header straight at the goal, forcing Tickle to make a one-handed save.
Six minutes later, Shrewsbury Town had another effort come close. This time it was Dan Udoh’s attempted cross that deflected off Jason Kerr, and fortunately for the Wigan defender it went just wide of the post.
Just before the hour mark, Wigan saw themselves go 1-0 up through Matthew Smith. A rebound fell into the path of Smith inside the box, who struck it sweetly into the top left corner, securing his first goal for the club.
In the 67th minute, a corner crossed by Tom Bayliss found Benning positioned at the edge of the box, but his fired shot was saved by Tickle.
After a quiet quarter of an hour, Wigan nearly doubled their lead through Thelo Aasgaard whose shot was claimed by Marosi.
In the 87th minute, a Bennett corner was met by Dunkley whose effort looked as though it was destined to find the back of the goal, but the ball clipped a defender and somehow stayed out.
The last chance of the game for Shrewsbury came from Pierre, as he went straight through the Latics defence and made it to the edge of the box, but he fired the ball into the side netting.
Although Salop continued to push for an equaliser in the last moments of the game, Wigan managed to hold on to the lead until the final whistle.
