Wigan Athletic 0 Charlton 1
The Addicks claimed an excellent three points to kick off the season on Saturday evening, as a late goal from Lloyd Jones secured a 1-0 victory at the Brick Community Stadium.
Charlton started quickly and had the first real chance of the game in the eighth minute when a long ball from Jones was taken down inside the box by Gassan Ahadme. The striker squared the ball for fellow debutant Greg Docherty, who tried to scramble the ball home but was denied low down by goalkeeper Sam Tickle.
As the half wore on the hosts began to grow into the game, and went close in the 23rd minute when Matt Smith’s long-range effort looped up off Alex Mitchell and dropped just wide of Will Mannion’s left post.
The Latics were limited to shots from outside the box in the first period, but went even closer in the 40th minute when Luke Chambers’ corner eventually fell to Thelo Aasgaard 20 yards out, and the Norwegian sent a volley into the side netting.
Aasgaard had Mannion worried again in the third minute of first-half stoppage time, when his 30-yard free-kick flew just over the bar.
Wigan ended the half the better side and picked up where they left off after the break. In the 52nd minute, Aasgaard was again involved, dinking into the area to find Baba Adeeko, but the Irishman swiped at thin air.
Six minutes later Aasgaard was played through on goal by an excellent through ball from Will Aimson, but was denied what looked a certain goal by a wonderful sliding challenge from Kayne Ramsay.
The Addicks would require similar heroics from their other wing-back in the 69th minute. Substitute Jordan Jones got free down the left and sent in a deep cross to the back post. Dion Rankine looked set to tap the ball home but Josh Edwards was on hand to head the ball away.
Two minutes later it was Charlton’s turn to go close, when Docherty sent Tyreece Campbell away down the left, and the forward stung the palms of Tickle from a tight angle.
The away side had come through a difficult period and began to assert themselves in the final quarter of the game. In the 81st minute, they found the goal they were looking for.
Substitute Tennai Watson sent a long ball into the box which Charlie Hughes was able to get a head to, but the defender could only divert the ball into the path of Lloyd Jones. Jones opened up his body, and lashed the ball into the far corner past a helpless Tickle, before racing away to celebrate a priceless goal.
The Latics would fight for an equaliser and had an excellent chance in the 86th minute when Chambers’ corner found Josh Stones unmarked, but the substitute got his header wrong and the ball looped up harmlessly into Mannion’s arms.
The home side were not going down easily and had the away fans feeling nervous when Jones cut inside and sent a curling effort just past Mannion’s post.
But it would prove the final chance of the game, with the Addicks professionally seeing out the remaining minutes and claiming a huge three points. Next up for Nathan Jones’ side is the Carabao Cup first-round tie against Birmingham City at The Valley on Tuesday.
Wigan Athletic: Tickle; Sessegnon (Ramsay 61), Kerr (c), Aimson (Hughes 73), Chambers; Adeeko, M.Smith (S.Smith 80), Sze (Jones 60); Rankine, Hugill (Stones 72), Aasgaard
Subs (not used): Lonergan, Carragher
Booked: Hughes 78 (foul on Watson)
Charlton: Mannion; A.Mitchell, Jones, Gillesphey; Ramsay (Watson 73), Docherty (c) (Berry 90), Coventry, Anderson, Edwards; Campbell (Kanu 73), Ahadme (Aneke 74)
Subs (not used): Maynard-Brewer, Edmonds-Green, Small
Goal: Jones 81
Booked: N.Jones 90+3 (leaving technical area)
Attendance: 9,564 (862 from Charlton)
Referee: Adam Herczeg
