Wigan 3-0 Reading: Royals Outrun by Athletic

Wigan: Al Habsi, Perch, Beausejour, McArthur, Barnett, Boyce, Espinoza (Collison, 84), Gomez, Waghorn (Powell, 73), Mcmanaman, Maloney (Fortune, 72)

Goals: Gomez, 30, Waghorn, 42, Mcmanaman, 51

Yellows: Mcmanaman

Reading: McCarthy, Gunter, Pearce, Morrison, Obita, Hector, Williams (Robson-Kanu, 55), Akpan, McAnuff (Blackman, 55), McCleary (Le Fondre, 84), Pogrebnyak

Yellows: Williams, Akpan

The game in Lancashire on Good Friday was just one in a list of must win games for the Royals, but Wigan looked like the dominant team from kick off. The first shot of the game came from Jordan Obita in the second minute, but it was comfortably saved by Ali Al Habsi, and he was rarely troubled for the rest of the game.

Wigan continued to dominate the first half, with Callum McManaman and Roger Espinoza both coming close. The Latics’ opening goal came in the 30th minute with a superb strike from Jordi Gomez, leaving Alex McCarthy with no chance. The Royals’ keeper made some great saves to deny the likes of James Perch and James McArthur, but he was left stranded for Wigan’s second after Martyn Waghorn was perfectly placed for a McManaman cross.

The second half started much like the first had finished, and it didn’t take long for Wigan to score a third. McManaman seemed to run past three Reading defenders in the box before scoring calmly from 15 yards out. Reading fans were stunned into complete silence quite soon afterwards, after Nigel Adkins made some interesting decisions to take off Danny Williams and Jobi McAnuff, debatably the only two players who actually showed a tiny bit of fight.

My match reports are usually filled with chances that Reading had, but I genuinely have nothing to report. Apart from a shot that Michael Hector dragged slightly wide of the left hand post, Reading didn't actually start to show any kind of character until the 80th minute. We also had two corners, one from each side of the pitch. But apart from that, I’m sorry; this hasn’t been the easiest match report to write!

The result leaves Reading outside the play off zone in 7th, with Brighton overtaking and above the Royals by a point and now have a superior goal difference. Even though the performance was terrible and lacklustre (any other similar words can go here), the results continue to go Reading’s way, which means amazingly we’re still in the hunt for that last playoff spot. Let’s just see what Tuesday brings!!