Huddersfield 1-2 Wigan: Warren Joyce secures first Latics win

Warren Joyce secured his first victory in charge of Wigan as they won 2-1 at Huddersfield in the Sky Bet Championship on Monday night.

Huddersfield dominated for most of the encounter at the John Smith's Stadium, but Yanic Wildschut's superb counter-attacking display up front for Wigan was the difference as he created Reece Burke's opener in the first half before netting the winner himself on the hour after Aaron Mooy had equalised.

For Joyce it was a first victory in his third match with Wigan, having been thumped by Reading before a goalless draw against Barnsley.

Huddersfield's brilliant start to the season, meanwhile, looks a long time ago now. They have now gone four games without a win and stay sixth in the table. 

David Wagner's side had a good chance to take the lead after just nine minutes, as Elias Kachunga combined well with Rajiv van la Parra before heading over the bar when he should have at least hit the target.

The frustration continued for Wagner, who was forced into two changes in the first half, as Mark Hudson and Sean Scannell were forced off with injury, while also seeing his side constantly hit on the counter-attack after giving the ball away in dangerous areas.

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Wildschut was superb on his own up front for Wigan, and he went close a couple of times himself before creating the opener after 40 minutes, charging brilliantly down the right before crossing for Burke, who had found his way into an unmarked position in the box and had the simplest tasks to steer the ball home.

Huddersfield looked far sharper in the second half with Nahki Wells on for the injured Scannell, and the striker did well to create their equaliser in the 50th minute, finding some space in the box before crossing low for Mooy to finish at the far post.

The home side managed to keep Wildschut quiet in the opening exchanges of the second half, but on the stroke of the hour mark he finally managed to break free of the Huddersfield defence, latching onto Max Power's ball over the top before charging forward from halfway, rounding goalkeeper Danny Ward and tucking the ball into an empty net.

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The goal came as a real blow to Huddersfield, but they continued to push forward and should have had a penalty in the 63rd minute as Luke Garbutt clipped and brought down the charging Wells in the box. Referee Tony Harrington, however, waved it away.

And 15 minutes later they had another real case for a spot-kick as Wigan captain Stephen Warnock clattered into the back of Kachunga in the box, but again the referee was having none of it.

Eventually Wigan held on to claim a vital three points that lifted them into 22nd, only remaining in the relegation zone on goals scored.

Huddersfield boss David Wagner:

"Sometimes you don't get what you deserve, and unfortunately we had two penalty situations where, from my point of view, it was clear that we have to get at least one. 

"But it was the referee's decision, and sometimes he has the right view sometimes not. But unfortunately today we didn't get these penalties."

Wigan boss Warren Joyce:

"It's just a game. We've won, three points and that's it. By the time we get in the car and go home tonight the only thing you look for is the next game, and that's the way it is in football.

"We've done a lot of good things tonight. It's no use doing that if we don't continue doing it in the next few games."