Match ends, Wigan Athletic 1, Leeds United 2.
04 Nov 2018
Leeds go top of Championship with victory at Wigan
Leeds United recovered from going a goal behind to beat Wigan Athletic and return to the top of the Championship.
The Latics, celebrating the Whelan family's 23-year association with the club in what is set to be their final game, went ahead through Reece James' fine curling free-kick.
But Leeds were level within three minutes when the influential Pablo Hernandez tapped in from close range.
Marcelo Bielsa's side completed the turnaround less than a minute into the second half, Kemar Roofe capitalising on a defensive mix-up to walk the ball into an empty net.
- Relive Leeds' victory over Wigan
Wigan never seriously threatened to level the contest and Leeds, impressing with their possession-based style, bossed the ball to see the game out with relative ease.
Their fourth away win of the season takes them to the summit of the table, leapfrogging previous leaders Norwich City on goal difference.
But that five different teams have topped the Championship in the past fortnight only emphasises how tight the division remains - and just five points separate the top eight.
The end of an era for the Whelan family
It was a day of celebration at the DW Stadium, with the Whelan family due to transfer their controlling stake in the club to Hong Kong-based International Entertainment Corporation during the next week.
The takeover will see David Sharpe step down as chairman and he was joined at the match by grandfather Dave Whelan, who first bought Wigan in 1995.
Their final game at the helm got off to the perfect start when James scored his first goal since 2016, but once Hernandez equalised the visitors always looked the superior side.
United's winner came in comical circumstances when Latics goalkeeper Christian Walton and Cedric Kipre both attempted to clear Hernandez's tame pass - but instead collided in calamitous fashion to allow Roofe the simplest of finishes.
- Line-ups
- Match Stats
- Live Text
Line-ups
Wigan
- 1Walton
- 12James
- 21Kipre
- 33Burn
- 3Robinson
- 2Byrne
- 4GibsonSubstituted forVaughanat 85'minutes
- 5MorsyBooked at 90mins
- 20NaismithSubstituted forDa Silva Lopesat 70'minutes
- 10Windass
- 41GarnerSubstituted forMcManamanat 64'minutesBooked at 81mins
Substitutes
- 8Vaughan
- 15McManaman
- 16MacDonald
- 19Da Silva Lopes
- 22Dunkley
- 23Jones
- 36Evans
Leeds
- 1Peacock-Farrell
- 23Phillips
- 18Jansson
- 6Cooper
- 15Dallas
- 43KlichSubstituted forShackletonat 90+1'minutes
- 4Forshaw
- 3DouglasBooked at 90mins
- 19HernándezBooked at 57mins
- 7Roofe
- 10Alioski
Substitutes
- 11Roberts
- 14Sáiz
- 22Harrison
- 27Blackman
- 34Baker
- 46Shackleton
- 47Clarke
- Referee:
- Andy Davies
- Attendance:
- 14,799
Match Stats
Home TeamWiganAway TeamLeeds
- Possession
- Home33%
- Away67%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away4
- Corners
- Home4
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away15
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Wigan Athletic 1, Leeds United 2.
Foul by Ezgjan Alioski (Leeds United).
Sam Morsy (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Jamie Shackleton (Leeds United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Pablo Hernández (Leeds United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ezgjan Alioski.
Stuart Dallas (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Callum McManaman (Wigan Athletic).
Booking
Sam Morsy (Wigan Athletic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Pablo Hernández (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Sam Morsy (Wigan Athletic).
Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Jamie Shackleton replaces Mateusz Klich.
Booking
Barry Douglas (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Barry Douglas (Leeds United).
Leonardo Da Silva Lopes (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Kemar Roofe (Leeds United).
Nathan Byrne (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Pablo Hernández (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by James Vaughan (Wigan Athletic).
Substitution
Substitution, Wigan Athletic. James Vaughan replaces Darron Gibson.
Attempt missed. Callum McManaman (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Leonardo Da Silva Lopes.
Attempt blocked. Ezgjan Alioski (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Adam Forshaw.
Liam Cooper (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Josh Windass (Wigan Athletic).
Booking
Callum McManaman (Wigan Athletic) is shown the yellow card.
Barry Douglas (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Callum McManaman (Wigan Athletic).
Offside, Leeds United. Kemar Roofe tries a through ball, but Ezgjan Alioski is caught offside.
Ezgjan Alioski (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Reece James (Wigan Athletic).
Attempt missed. Pablo Hernández (Leeds United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ezgjan Alioski.
Corner, Wigan Athletic. Conceded by Liam Cooper.
Attempt blocked. Nathan Byrne (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sam Morsy.
Attempt missed. Kemar Roofe (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Adam Forshaw.
Substitution
Substitution, Wigan Athletic. Leonardo Da Silva Lopes replaces Kal Naismith.
Barry Douglas (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Reece James (Wigan Athletic).
Foul by Stuart Dallas (Leeds United).
Callum McManaman (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Wigan Athletic. Callum McManaman replaces Joe Garner.
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