Wigan 0-1 Brighton: Dale Stephens stunner proves the difference

A cracking goal from substitute Dale Stephens midway through the second half settled a tight Sky Bet Championship clash 1-0 in Brighton's favour at Wigan.

The midfielder was in the right place at the right time to fire into the top corner from 25 yards and halt Wigan's recent resurgence.

Despite starting the game in the bottom three, Wigan had momentum after extending their unbeaten record to four matches in midweek with a deserved draw at Leeds. And they came flying out of the blocks and really took the game to their opponents.

Michael Jacobs might have done better when firing wide from a decent position, which was almost punished within seconds at the other end.

Wigan goalkeeper Adam Bogdan failed to deal with a deep corner, and Glenn Murray will be wondering how his header did not hit the target from underneath the bar.

Wigan lost Nick Powell to injury just after the half-hour mark but his replacement, Nathan Byrne, was quickly into the play and looking lively. Byrne and Grigg thought they were in after a Brighton corner broke down, only for ex-Wigan man Gaetan Bong to rescue his side. The Wigan substitute then saw a shot blocked from a good position as half-time approached.

The second half was a far more sedate affair, with Wigan continuing to push for the opening goal, knowing they were leaving behind gaps for the visitors to exploit. 

Byrne and Reece Burke failed to hit the target in the opening stages of the half, and Wigan's profligacy came back to haunt them midway through the second period.

Bolton-born Stephens had scored on his previous visit to the DW Stadium in Wigan's 2-1 win here two seasons ago. And within minutes of coming off the Brighton bench, the midfielder curled a magnificent effort past the outstretched fingertips of Bogdan and into the top corner.

Wigan boss Gary Caldwell surprisingly took off top scorer Grigg at the break in play, sending on Adam Le Fondre instead. But the home side looked as though the wind had been completely knocked out of their sails, and barely tested Stockdale in the final quarter.

Brighton boss Chris Hughton:

"We were far from at our best, particularly in that first half. Unlike us, I thought we gave the ball away far too easily. But sometimes it's like that, and there's no particular reason for that.

"When it's like that, you have to make sure you don't concede. I thought we were fortunate to come in at half-time 0-0, and that gave us a chance in that second half."

Wigan boss Gary Caldwell:

"It's extremely frustrating - for me, for the staff, for the players, for the club. We're working extremely hard and putting in good performances. If we were being outplayed, I could come in here and hold my hands up and say it's unacceptable.

"But when I see the players giving as much as they are, playing the way they, I just want them to believe in themselves a little bit more. When they get those opportunities, they have to be a bit more ruthless, they have to have belief in themselves that they can go and score goals and punish teams.

"We're getting in some fantastic positions, and we're not getting the rewards that we deserve."