Goals from Luke Hyam and Conor Sammon saw the Blues to a 2-1 victory over Wigan Athletic, their first ever win at the DW Stadium. Hyam turned home the opener on 20 and Sammon netted against his old club in the 63rd minute, before Martyn Waghorn set up a nervy finish for Blues supporters when he pulled one back with eight minutes remaining.

On-loan striker Sammon was handed his second Town start with Hyam also returning to the side having missed the last two games.

Jay Tabb was missing through illness and Paul Anderson dropped to the bench, while recent re-signing Darren Ambrose was on the bench for the first time since signing a short-term deal. Town lined-up 4-3-3 with David McGoldrick behind Sammon and Daryl Murphy.

The Latics dominated the early stages and went close in the third minute when Andy Delort headed into the ground and over from Shaun Maloney’s cross following a freekick, Murphy having tripped Callum McManaman on the right.

Town gradually began to get a foothold in the game and on 14 McGoldrick found Mings on the left with a looping ball, the full-back bringing the ball all the way across the area to the right wing without being able to find a gap for a shot.

Murphy struck the Blues’ first effort on goal in the 18th minute, Latics keeper Scott Carson getting down to his right to push away the Irishman’s 25-yard effort. A minute later, Mings crossed from the left and Sammon stooped to nod wide at the far post.

Town were starting to get on top and in the 20th minute they went in front. Murphy used his strength on the right to hold off a defender before playing a ball in to Hyam on the edge of the area.

The midfielder moved it on to McGoldrick, who fed Mings on the left, who in turn crossed low into the box back to Hyam, who turned the ball home for his - and the Town midfield’s - first goal of the season, only the third of his senior career and the Blues’ first at the DW Stadium in their fourth game at Wigan’s current home.

Town went close to adding a second within a minute when McGoldrick got into a good position on the right inside the area and cut the ball across towards Sammon, but hit the ex-Latic on the backside and the danger was cleared.

Christophe Berra picked up the game’s first yellow card in the 22nd minute for a late challenge on McManaman as he broke on the right. From Adam Forshaw’s freekick, Emmerson Boyce headed well over.

The Blues, who were by now well on top, went close again three minutes later when Cole Skuse threaded a ball through to Murphy just to the right, midway inside the Wigan half. The Blues’ number nine cut a low ball towards McGoldrick with the advancing Carson looking beaten, but Ivan Ramis got in ahead of him to slide the ball behind.

Wigan started to come back into it again and on 32 Boyce saw a shot from inside the area deflect wide off Berra. Four minutes later, the Latics were forced into a substitution, the injured McManaman making way for James McClean.

Mings had his name added to referee Andy Woolmer’s book in the 39th minute for a trip as Maloney broke through the centre midway inside the Town half. Skipper Luke Chambers was had got back as cover and the yellow card was the right decision.

The freekick deflected wide off the wall and from the resultant corner on the right Delort headed well beyond the far post.

Neither side threatened again before the referee brought the half to a close with the Blues deserving their lead.

After the home side had dominated the first 10 minutes, the Blues got on top and created two very decent chances in addition to Hyam’s well-worked goal.

The Latics came more into the game again towards the break but without creating a significant chance, while Town continued to look a threat.

There was a scare for Wigan five minutes after the break when keeper Carson was forced to rush off his line to clear James Perch’s backpass as McGoldrick chased it down. Moments later at the other end, Forshaw saw a strike deflect over.

Skuse made way for Kevin Bru on the hour mark, the Mauritius international hitting an early effort over the bar after Bishop had nodded a Mings cross back into the area following a corner.

And on 63 the Blues increased their lead with former Latic Sammon netting his first goal since his loan move from Derby.

McGoldrick picked up a loose ball midway inside the Wigan half and brought it forward before playing it into the path of Sammon. The Dubliner took it in on goal and got the luck of the bounce as he took it past - or rather through - Carson before tapping home from a couple of feet and celebrating in front of the small band of Town supporters behind the goal.

It might have been 3-0 on 66 when Murphy was found in space on the left but the striker’s touch let him down and the ball bounced to Carson. Two minutes later, McGoldrick found himself space on the right of the area but shot wide.

Ambrose came on for his third debut for the Blues in the 71st minute with Bishop, who had been suffering with cramp, making way.

Wigan began to put the Blues under a bit of pressure, winning a number of corners as the game moved into its final 15 minutes. Following one flagkick on the right, McClean returned to the far post and Gerken did well to block from Ramis.

McGoldrick forced Carson to save down to his right with a 25-yard strike, then with eight minutes to go the home side pulled a goal back.

McClean, who scored twice against the Blues at Portman Road last season, was found in space by a deep corner from the right and the Irishman smashed a shot which Waghorn diverted into the net from close range.

Forshaw nodded into Gerken’s arms as the home side went looking for an equaliser with the Blues defending increasingly desperately.

On 88 Wigan came within a whisker of getting back on terms when sub Oriol Riera hit the post after latching on to a half-cleared cross from the right. Soon after, Tommy Smith replaced McGoldrick as the Blues looked to shore things up at the back.

As the match moved into four minutes of additional time Town were still very much under the cosh, Boyce volleying wide from one of several corners.

But they held on to claim a deserved first win at the DW Stadium to make it nine points out of nine in the last 10 days.

There were some nervy moments in the closing stages with Town sitting very deep, but they had been worth their two-goal lead and might have been even further ahead had they taken their other first-half opportunities.

The win takes the Blues up to seventh in the table with Rotherham visiting Portman Road on Saturday.

Wigan: Carson, Ramis, Maloney (Riera 64), McManaman (McClean 36), Boyce (c), Cowie, Perch, Forshaw, Kiernan, Kvist, Delort (Waghorn 72). Unused: Al Habsi, Barnett, Taylor, Tavernier.

Town: Gerken, Parr, Chambers (c), Berra, Mings, Skuse (Bru 60), Hyam, Bishop (Ambrose 71), McGoldrick (Smith 90), Sammon, Murphy. Unused: Bialkowski, Henshall, Anderson, Bajner. Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire).

Photo: Action Images

Fat_Boy_Tim added 22:23 - Sep 22 Blueboy - pre-match I think you said "...... Hyam and Skuse - not a good selection. Would be good for them to prove me wrong tho'. 2-0 defeat I fear is on the cards. " MOTM and the player who held the midfield together for the first hour where we dominated!
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warktheline added 22:26 - Sep 22 Well there you go, only a few weeks ago the usual posse were hammering the manager, players and pro Mick on this forum......they know who they are, and I guess they remember me accepting the criticism, but I also mentioned that once the team settled and we hit a touch of form, things could change very quickly. Say no more, apart from, well done Mr Evans for holding your nerve through the transfer window, we are now seeing the positives on the pitch.

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blueboy1981 added 22:28 - Sep 22 JWM .... usual euphoria from you - where as realism and being honest is the way some (including myself) will see it. But you obviously don't understand that - so move on. Haven't I told you before ? - don't read my posts if you can't hack the above mentioned.
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Superblue95 added 22:29 - Sep 22 Scored 2 good goals today and could, should and (if Didz and Murphs were wearing their shooting boots) would have been more. MIngs outstanding today, Aaron who? Hyam magnificent too and deserved his mom award. 3 wins in a row bloody brilliant long may it continue. COYB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Suffolk_n_Good added 22:30 - Sep 22 DELIGHTED!! Great result, utterly superb for the first 75mins, but hey we'll take bit of luck, blimey we've had bad luck more than I care to remember, would have been an injustice if we hadn't of won, thought Hyam was fantastic, special mentions for Berra, Mings & Sammon great performances, not easy I know, but 3 points on Sat against Rotherham would be a great follow up, well done MM & TC :)

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runaround added 22:31 - Sep 22 Cracking performance & excellent result. Last 10 minutes may have been nervy but we thoroughly deserved to win. Good performances throughout the team but midfield 3 were outstanding. Buzzing
4

Gazelle added 22:32 - Sep 22 Quite frankly we were down to 9 men at the end, Ambrose and Bru hardly touched the ball.
5

ihatenorwich added 22:32 - Sep 22 We were better than them from open play all over the pitch, which is encouraging knowing we can go to a side that plays good football and look fairly comfortable coming away with 3 points. Mings is going to go all the way in my eyes and I think we hold the best back 4 in the league. Onwards and upwards Town!
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blueboy1981 added 22:33 - Sep 22 Fat Boy Tim ......... I genuinely thought we could easily lose this one tonight - not an easy place to go and pick up points at anytime. Credit to both Hyam and Skuse for playing their part in proving me wrong, I am pleased to admit - and very happy with 3 points tonight.
2

mojo added 22:34 - Sep 22 Excellent to get our first away win of the season, and a lot earlier than last year at Blackpool. Great that the 2 players coming into the starting 11 both scored. I think our squad is coming together nicely, I just think we could do with another proven striker to come off the bench and put the wind up teams.
1

domino7 added 22:35 - Sep 22 Hyam stand out performer, Mings and Murphy brilliant again. Skuse maybe boring and defensive but allowed the rest to play their natural game. Missed him massively once he went off. Huge win tonight and well deserved!!
6

Jimmy86 added 22:37 - Sep 22 Get in town, great performance and great result, if wigan had have pulled level a draw wouldnt have been a fair result. Great line up from mick and we pressed and pressured them so well. Good passing and well taken goals. 9 from 9 and on a real little run. COYB
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Tonyitfc82 added 22:43 - Sep 22 Anyone with any complaints about the way town played throughout the game tonight then they must be buggies. Fantastic and brilliant. Cant describe it. A very professional performance. Could be above the scum by the end of week if results go our way ;)
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BlueandTruesince82 added 22:43 - Sep 22 Away against beaten play off semi/finalists (I forget which) not to shabby. They may not jave started great but their home form has been good so a hood 3 points. We can't read too much into the last 10. It happens all the time when a team pulls a late goal back and its just the ebb and flow of any particular game. The bigger pitcher is we have won 3 on the bounce, we have taken 10 points from the last 12, we are up to 7th, 2 clean sheets in the last 3. Equally in the context of this eve we needed an away win, we got it, we felt we would need 2, we got 2, we needed to hang on during a rough last 10, we did. Yes there are many things still to be improved but going in the right direction means reasons to be cheerful 123

3

runningout added 22:44 - Sep 22 'Buggies?'
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blueboy1981 added 22:45 - Sep 22 ......... the thing that worries me most of all - is that some of these people will be eligible to vote for the future of this Country. Doesn't bare thinking about really.
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TimmyH added 22:46 - Sep 22 Don't know who you are referring to? @warktheline - surely you can comment on something else on this positive night?
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jwalker added 22:47 - Sep 22 So many positives tonight and slowly putting ourselves in a decent position where we might not necessarily have to play catch up all season. You know you must be doing a few things right when other teams don't want to play you. I understand those of you who still want to see us playing better (who on here wouldn't) but try and enjoy nights like tonight ... I really hope people wouldn't still be grumbling about our style of play if it took us to the play offs, regardless of whether we won them or not

1

bluemagic74 added 22:47 - Sep 22 I said in an earlier post we could get something out of this game and did, also said some times in football you need a bit of luck and us as town fans have had very little over the past few years, but towards the end we got some luck but think over all we were much the better team and deserved the 3 points very good performance in my eyes although was very nervous last 10 or so minutes. COYB....

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JWM added 22:48 - Sep 22 Blueboy my problem with you is that you just can't give the boys any credit whatsoever! Why are you always so bitter? We aren't the finished article but we picked up another good 3 points away from home tonight and on the balance of play we thoroughly deserved the win. If you want an easy life why not take up Golf or bird watching or something! No one in their right mind can say that they haven't been satisfied with our recent victories. By all means criticise when it is justified but don't always pick out negatives from what was a very decent performance tonight.

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Foreverdon_Blue added 22:49 - Sep 22 A very good win and 7th in the league is a great start! Since Teddy Bishop made his debut we have got 10 points out of a possible 12 - long May that continue!
2

runningout added 22:53 - Sep 22 can understand some that don't want overdo the reaction from a decent result... been watching Ipswich too long to know not to get carried away, which some I'm afraid do
3

Langdon_Blue added 22:56 - Sep 22 Totally dominated until the last 10 minutes. Could and should have been 4-0 up by then. So relieved to hear the whistle after that frantic end. Well done tonight, very good win. 9 points out of 9. Nobody can moan about that return!
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DerryfromBury added 22:59 - Sep 22 First off Well Done to the travelling supporters, safe journey home. Excellent result, nervy last 15mins, the lads did well to soak up the almost constant pressure. Can't wait for Saturday and Rotherham. COYB
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sereneblue added 22:59 - Sep 22 Well done lads, a well derseved win. Played very well ,even with pressure on us at the end we defended resolutely,when all said and done its part of the game. Totally shocked to see MM play 3 up front and away from home!! Also Hyam and Bishop ,two YOUNG lads in the middle!! Has Mick had a bang on the head?
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