Wigan come from behind to beat Northampton

By Sports Desk August 12, 2023

Wigan Athletic moved up to minus two points in Sky Bet League One after securing their second league win from two against Northampton Town at the DW Stadium.

Northampton started well and even hit the post with a minute gone through William Hondermarck.

So it was no more than they deserved when Sam Hoskins curled a wonderful free-kick over the wall and into the top corner of the Wigan net.

Wigan made an early change with Callum McManaman being sent on within 10 minutes of the restart.

The new man had a cross headed just wide by Callum Lang before being chopped down by Marc Leonard at the expense of a booking.

Cobblers boss Jon Brady was also given a yellow card following the incident, with assistant Colin Calderwood following him into the book shortly after.

Wigan’s equaliser arrived with 18 minutes to go when Charlie Hughes headed home Tom Pearce’s corner.

McManaman secured a deserved win with 11 minutes remaining when he curled a beautiful shot into the top corner from 20 yards.

And there was still time for Charlie Wyke to head against the post from all of a yard.

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    PLAYERS TO WATCH

    Portland Timbers – Evander

    Attacking midfielder Evander has the second-most assists in the league with 14 in 26 appearances, only behind FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta, who has 16 in 30 appearances.

    The Brazilian ranks joint-sixth in the league for chances created having produced 81 across the season, while he has also scored 15 goals.

    Dallas - Peter Musa

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    He was on the scoresheet last time the two sides met in a high-scoring encounter that saw Dallas win 3-2.

    MATCH PREDICTION: PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN

    Portland have lost just one of their 15 all-time home matches against Dallas (W9 D5), going unbeaten in the last seven (W4 D3).

    Dallas have scored just two total goals in those seven visits, following a 3-1 victory in their only win at Portland in April 2016.

    Despite failing to score at home on Wednesday, Portland’s 39 goals at Providence Park this season in the MLS is their most in a single regular season since the club joined the league in 2011.

    OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

    Portland Timbers – 54.2%

    Draw – 23.5%

    Dallas – 22.3%

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