MATCH REPORT: WIGAN ATHLETIC 1-2 CAMBRIDGE UNITED

Wigan 1 

Cambridge 2 

The U's celebrate Harvey Knibbs opener
(Credit: Cambridge United)

Wigan Athletic’s promotion hopes took a blow with a shock 1-2 defeat at the hands of Cambridge United at the DW. First half strikes from Harvey Knibbs and Sam Smith set The U’s on their way to their first win away at Wigan since 1991. 

The first half took a while to get going but did eventually spark into life with the visitors taking the lead just past the half hour mark. Joe Ironside held the ball up well and poked it forward to Knibbs who took a touch before firing home an impressive low drive into the bottom corner to hand The U’s a surprise lead. 

Mark Bonner’s men almost doubled their lead instantly. Within a minute of Knibbs’ strike, Adam May dug out a dipping effort from range that had to be parried away by Ben Amos in the Wigan goal.  

The U’s kept up their domination and Smith added a second on the stroke of half time. James Brophy continued to torment Max Power and the former Leyton Orient man swung a fine ball into the box. Smith rose like a salmon in the centre to head a superb strike into the far corner out of the reach of Amos; this strike being Smith’s 13th of the League One season, as Cambridge went in two goals to the good at half time. 

The hosts got themselves back in the game with twelve minutes left on the clock. Power received the ball short from a corner and the 28-year-old whipped in a cross that was headed home powerfully by former Cambridge man Tom Naylor for his third goal of the season; denying The U’s of a 14th clean sheet of the league season. 

Deep into injury time visiting goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov would produce a fantastic reaction save to deny Josh Magennis from grabbing a point for the Lactics. Power provided another delivery and his cross was attacked well by Magennis. However, Mitov was equal to the effort with the Bulgarian tipping over with a strong hand to keep Cambridge’s lead intact.  

Defeat for Wigan sees their nine-game unbeaten league run come to a halt, as Leam Richardson’s men drop points for the second game in a row, but stay top of the league.  

Meanwhile for Cambridge a fourth win in five sees them climb into the top half of the table as The U’s won their third away game on the bounce.

By Nathan Williams