Ryan Shotton and Nick Powell scored a goal in either half to consign Town to a 2-0 defeat at Wigan. The result was harsh on the Blues, who hit the bar early on through Luke Chambers and had plenty of other chances.
Boss Mick McCarthy has made the one expected change with Paul Anderson coming in at right midfield for skipper Carlos Edwards, who dropped to the bench with Chambers wearing the armband.
Town were close to going in front in the second minute. Anderson sent in a corner from the left and Chambers’s downward header came back off the underside of the bar and the ball was scrambled away.
There was a further scare for the home side within a minute when a miscommunication between keeper Scott Carson and left-back James Perch almost gifted Cole Skuse the ball inside the area, however, former England goalkeeper Carson blocked at the midfielder’s feet and the ball ricocheted out for a goalkick.
Blues defender Christophe Berra appeared to be caught by Jean Beausejour’s flailing elbow midway inside the Town half in the ninth minute. Referee James Adcock stopped play, but only due to the head injury, and spoke to both players without issuing a card.
The Blues had had the better of the early stages but on 12 the home side went in front. Nick Powell sent in a deep corner from the left and on-loan Stoke defender Ryan Shotton - a one-time Town target making his league debut for the Latics — arrived at the far post to head down and into the roof of Dean Gerken’s net.
Thomas Rogne’s toe just prevented Daryl Murphy’s through ball from reaching David McGoldrick in the 15th minute, then, following a long spell of Town possession inside the Latics’ half, Luke Hyam scraped a shot wide from 20 yards.
On 21 Berra headed an Anderson corner from the left wide off a defender, then from the subsequent flagkick McGoldrick failed to test Carson with an overhead kick. Wigan broke quickly but Callum McManaman was thwarted by the sheer number of Town defenders who had got back inside the area.
McGoldrick seized on Perch and James McArthur’s error on 25 but the midfielder got back to put the ball out for a corner. The Blues striker won the ball in the air from the flagkick but couldn’t direct his header goalwards when he probably ought to have done better.
Town went close again a minute later when Skuse found Ryan Tunnicliffe breaking into the area on the left. The on-loan Manchester United man was forced into an area from where he couldn’t shoot but managed to square to McGoldrick, whose shot was blocked by Leon Barnett. The ball was half-cleared to Murphy just inside the area but his strike was stopped by Latics’ skipper Ben Watson.
The Blues were continuing to have most of the chances but the Latics looked dangerous whenever they were in or around the area. On 28 James McClean’s freekick deflected wide off the wall.
Town went close again in the 33rd minute when Chambers sent in a long throw from the right, Murphy flicked it on and Anderson headed over when he will feel he should have hit the target.
A minute later, Anderson crossed right-footed from the left and McGoldrick flicked a header across the face of goal but wide.
Town should have been on terms in the 36th minute when Aaron Cresswell’s mis-hit strike deflected to Murphy about 10 yards out but Carson reacted quickly to close him down and block. It was a great save, however, the Irishman will feel he should have scored.
Skuse’s deflected 40th minute strike forced Carson to save well down to his right with the Blues still on top and pushing for the equaliser.
Two minutes later, Berra was booked for a foul on Nick Powell - a Town target in his Crewe days - 25 yards out. The set piece was eventually played to the on-loan Manchester United man who took a couple of touches before hitting a shot not far wide of Gerken’s right post.
Moments before the break, McClean hit a shot on the turn over after a well-worked from the right but a second goal would have hugely flattered the home side.
The Latics could count themselves fortunate to be ahead at all as the sides made their way down the tunnel.
Town had been on top for the most part, having come close early on when Chambers hit the post and on a number of occasions later on in the half when Murphy in particular will feel he should have got his side back on terms.
Mick McCarthy is unlikely to have been pleased that his side conceded an early goal from an opposition corner for the second time in three games.
Town started the second period brightly, Tunnicliffe crossing from the left but Carson claiming ahead of McGoldrick and receiving a kick for his trouble.
Carson saved down to his left from the again impressive Tunnicliffe from 25 yards in the 54th minute, then two minutes later Tommy Smith got his name in referee Adcock’s book for a foul on the breaking McManaman.
From the resultant freekick, the Latics ought to have increased their lead. Watson sent the ball to the far post beyond Smith but Thomas Rogne headed wide.
Paul Taylor replaced Paul Anderson, who earlier looked to have been limping, on the hour. The striker was quickly into the action, hitting a shot over from the right having been fed by McGoldrick.
At the other end, McManaman screwed a shot wide, the impressive England U21 international suffering an injury in the process and making way for Roger Espinoza. On 74 Frank Nouble replaced Murphy in what was by now a Town front three.
Wigan went close to extending their lead in the 80th minute when Watson’s freekick found Powell, but his header flew wide. Moments later, an error by Berra allowed McArthur a shot at goal but he hit it well wide when he ought to have done better.
Taylor saw a shot deflect wide on 81, then after the corner a McGoldrick effort from a tight angle was blocked.
Town were starting to put the pressure on and in the 83rd minute Nouble sent in a low cross from the left which McGoldrick and then Tunnicliffe tried to force home but with the home defence remaining resolute.
Carson saved superbly to his right in the 86th minute from Berra’s 25-yard goalbound strike, then after the corner had been cleared, Tunnicliffe went rather less close from a similar distance.
Sub Wordsworth headed Cresswell’s deflected freekick from the right straight at Carson in the 89th minute as the Blues continued to look for the equaliser.
However, with Berra by now employed as an additional attacker, the Blues were caught by a sucker punch. Keeper Gerken tried to shield a bouncing ball into the area before grabbing it, Powell put the Town keeper under pressure and beat him to it before casually strolling in on goal and tapping home with the Blues’ players calling for a freekick.
Gerken was incensed, feeling he was fouled, claiming Powell had shoved his way past him, although the ex-Colchester keeper had had the chance to take the more cautious option of heading the ball out and the challenge probably wouldn’t have resulted in a freekick elsewhere on the pitch.
Cresswell shot well wide, then Wigan sub Chris McCann shot straight at Gerken before Tunnicliffe hit the game’s last effort into the sidenetting.
The scoreline was harsh on the Blues who had more than enough opportunities to get back on terms before Powell’s late goal on the counter-attack, having come close to going ahead through Chambers's early header.
Manager Mick McCarthy will again be bemoaning another good overall performance which has yielded a third defeat to one of last season’s relegated Premier League teams.
Wigan: Carson, Shotton, Perch (Boyce 75), Rogne, Barnett, Watson (c), McArthur, McClean, Beausejour (McCann 85), Powell, McManaman (Espinoza 65). Subs: Nicholls, Crainey, Gomez, Dicko.
Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Anderson (Taylor 60), Hyam (Wordsworth 85), Skuse, Tunnicliffe, Murphy (Nouble 74), McGoldrick. Subs: Loach, Hewitt, Tabb, Wordsworth, Edwards. Referee: James Adcock (Nottinghamshire). Att: 13,747.