Wigan Athletic head coach Shaun Maloney admitted he learned a major lesson during his side’s impressive 3-2 victory against title-chasers Peterborough United at the weekend.
The Latics have been on an excellent run of form in recent weeks, picking up nine points across their previous four outings in League One. Maloney’s side are sitting 13th in the table and would be in ninth place had the club not been deducted eight points before the season commenced.
On Saturday afternoon, Wigan became the only team in England’s third tier to beat Peterborough across their 22 previous league matches. A Thelo Asgaard brace and an early second-half strike from centre-forward Josh Magennis sealed all three points, clinching the double over the Posh.
However, Wigan Athletic made life much more difficult throughout the game when Matt Smith was sent off for picking up a second yellow card. Darren Ferguson’s side negotiated a late comeback by scoring twice in stoppage time but the visitors held on for the win.
Speaking after the game, Maloney admitted that his celebration after the Latics scored the third goal of the game was a mistake with the hindsight of what was an uncomfortable end to the match [quotes via Wigan Today]:
“I’ll remember not to do that again, because it almost cost us!
“At the end there, when they had six or seven players in our box, we were relying on our defenders to clear their lines.
“Maybe I learnt a lesson at the end there,” he continued.
“I let off a little bit of steam when the third goal went in, and I don’t normally tend to celebrate.
“It was uncomfortable for sure, but I was delighted to hear the whistle.”
Writer’s View
Hindsight is always 20/20. It’s much easier for Maloney to say that celebrating the third was a mistake but given the circumstances of the match, with Wigan Athletic grabbing a third after having a man sent off, the celebration was completely understandable.
The Scot has done a tremendous job this season, taking his side from bottom at the beginning of the campaign to 13th. While a late playoff push may be too late, Wigan have all but secured their place in League One after Saturday’s win.
Deputy Head of Writing
