Wigan Athletic 0-1 Reading: Tom Ince strike earns Royals victory over Latics
- Published
Tom Ince's second-half strike was his second goal of the season and both have been winners
Tom Ince's sumptuous free-kick was enough to earn victory over Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium and take Reading up to third in the Championship.
Ince's second-half strike earned the Royals a sixth league victory this term and ensured the Latics are winless from their five home matches.
A forgettable first half failed to produce a single effort on target, but the match improved markedly after the interval.
Tom Holmes and Tom McIntyre both went close for the visitors before Ince struck, while Will Keane was unlucky not to level with a header that came back off the inside of the post and rolled along the line.
Before kick-off both sets of fans observed a minute's silence and then sang the national anthem in tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The first half was low-key, producing just six wayward attempts on goal and bringing very little excitement.
Reading, who had kept two clean sheets in their previous 21 away Championship matches and were on the wrong end of a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Sheffield United in their last away trip, had the first noteworthy chance after 26 minutes, but Jeff Hendrick shot over when well placed from a fine pull-back by Andy Yiadom.
The hosts' best chance in the opening period saw Josh Magennis head a Tendayi Darikwa cross tantalising wide of the post.
The tempo, quality and entertainment all stepped up a level after the break, with Reading, who have now won five of their past seven games, having the upper hand.
Holmes glanced a header wide from Ince's near-post free-kick, McIntyre was narrowly off target with a strike after good work by Junior Hoilett, before the increasingly threatening Ince made the breakthrough, winning a free-kick on the edge of the box and then finding the back of the net with a divine curled effort.
Keane was desperately unlucky not to level from James McClean's cross from the left, however, it was the visitors who continued to be the more likely to add to the goal tally. Ince almost doubled the lead but his downward header bounced over the bar after more great approach play from McIntyre, while Wigan keeper Ben Amos made a fine block as Yakou Meite ran through on goal.
At the other end Callum Lang raced onto Keane's clever lofted pass, but shot over while Charlie Wyke was also off target in injury time, meaning the Latics finished the match without a solitary effort on goal.
Andy Carroll, re-signed by the Royals earlier this week, came off the bench in the ninth minute of stoppage time as Reading withstood string late pressure for their second away league win this term.
Wigan boss Leam Richardson:
"It was tough. The game was there to be won, and I think we played with enough energy, impetus and sharpness during the first half.
"We had to take the game to them and try to make those opportunities. We controlled possession and had enough shots but not enough on target. We didn't really put them under enough pressure. We have to play at a certain level to be the best versions of ourselves and we just dipped a little.
"As a team collectively, we've got to be better, sharper and more productive.
"We are still learning and growing as a group, as a team. It's not our finest day but we'll learn from it and quickly educate ourselves and be better. We will certainly know the next time how we become more productive, and sharper in certain areas, which will help us be productive."
Reading boss Paul Ince:
"After Wednesday night [loss against Sunderland], I said to the players that we needed to have a response. We seem to do that - when we have not played well, we seem to be able to get a reaction from the players. It doesn't always mean we'll get the right result, but we ask for a reaction.
"It was a performance full of passion - we looked solid, structured and there were people putting their heads in there to win the ball. It was a battle to earn the right to play. And we battled and battled.
"We did a lot of homework on Wigan in a very short space of time - so we knew what to expect. At the back we dealt with what they threw at us. It was a real "backs-to the wall" performance towards the end.
"We got a bit fortunate; they've hit the post and they've hit one over the bar - but we've had two absolute sitters. Thomas should score with a header and Yak should score in a one-on-one. We weren't ruthless enough.
"So again, as much as I'm pleased with the result, I'm not happy with the fact that we still don't kill teams off. And those chances would have killed them off. Instead, we could have paid for it at the end."