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Daryl Dike has now scored six goals, making him the Baggies’ leading league scorer this season
West Bromwich Albion edged back within four points of the Championship play-off places as they narrowly beat struggling Wigan Athletic.
United States international Daryl Dike headed the only goal of the game from close range to send the battling Latics back to the foot of the Championship table.
But, in the first of successive home games against the bottom two – Huddersfield Town visit The Hawthorns on Saturday – Carlos Corberan’s at times nervy side made hard work of it.
They hit the woodwork four times, although one of those efforts, from Jayson Molumby, turned onto the bar by Latics keeper Ben Amos, did set up Dike’s match-winning goal.
- Relive Tuesday’s EFL action
Albion had already gone close when on-loan Marc Albrighton and Conor Townsend combined down the left only for Molumby to somehow steer wide at the near post.
But Molumby was again involved when the Baggies stole ahead on 27 minutes when Amos valiantly turned the home midfielder’s effort onto the crossbar, only for the rebound to drop down almost on the goal-line for Dike to nod home.
Five minutes later, Dike could have had a second. He made the chance for himself with a great first touch and lightning turn to wallop a superbly-struck right-foot volley goalwards, but Amos this time had the measure of it, somehow having the strength and reflexes to turn it onto the post.
Dara O’Shea then powered a close-range header just over and Townsend had a low left-foot shot turned aside by Amos early in the second half.
Albion then hit the woodwork for a third time when Jed Wallace’s shot came back off the post after being played in by Albrighton.
But, as long as it was only 1-0, the visitors were always a threat and two of the Latics’ substitutes went close.
Josh Magennis should have done better with the close-range header he ballooned over the bar and then fellow sub Thelo Aasgaard forced young home keeper Josh Griffiths into his first save.
Albion hit the woodwork for a fourth time when John Swift smashed a right-foot effort against the bar – but they had, in fact, done enough.
Who’s next?
Albion will host the second-bottom side for the second time in five days when Huddersfield come to the Black Country on Saturday, having edged above Wigan thanks to a 0-0 draw at home to Bristol City.
Wigan face another tough away test at Championship leaders Burnley.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsWest Brom
Formation 4-2-3-1
33Griffiths2Furlong4O’Shea15Pieters3Townsend14Molumby35Yokuslu17J Wallace19Swift22Albrighton12Dike
- 33Griffiths2Furlong4O’Shea15PietersSubstituted forAjayiat 71’minutes3Townsend14MolumbySubstituted forChalobahat 57’minutes35Yokuslu17J Wallace19SwiftSubstituted forGardner-Hickmanat 85’minutes22AlbrightonSubstituted forReachat 71’minutes12Dike
Substitutes
- 1Button6Ajayi20Reach25Chalobah29Gardner-Hickman32Malcolm40Faal
Wigan
Formation 3-4-2-1
12Amos32Hughes24Rekik2Nyambe27Darikwa8Power22Tiéhi11McClean10Keane25Sinani23Fletcher
-
- 12Amos32Hughes24Rekik
Booked at 36mins
-
- 2NyambeSubstituted forBennettat 45’minutes27Darikwa8Power22TiéhiSubstituted forAasgaardat 45’minutes11McCleanSubstituted forPearceat 88’minutes10KeaneSubstituted forMagennisat 66’minutes
Booked at 90mins
- 25Sinani23Fletcher
Substitutes
- 1Jones3Pearce4Naylor5Whatmough21Bennett28Magennis29Caulker30Aasgaard
Referee:Rebecca WelchAttendance:21,552Match StatsHome TeamWest BromAway TeamWiganPossessionHome55%Away45%ShotsHome17Away10Shots on TargetHome4Away3CornersHome1Away2FoulsHome6Away9Live Text Post update
Match ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Wigan Athletic 0.
90’+6’Full Time
Second Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Wigan Athletic 0.
90’+3’Post update
Attempt missed. Tendayi Darikwa (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
90’+3’Post update
Corner, Wigan Athletic. Conceded by Joshua Griffiths.
90’+3’Post update
Attempt saved. Tom Pearce (Wigan Athletic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Danel Sinani.
90’+2’Post update
Darnell Furlong (West Bromwich Albion).
90’+2’Post update
Joe Bennett (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+1’Booking
Josh Magennis (Wigan Athletic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90’+1’Post update
Okay Yokuslu (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90’+1’Post update
Foul by Josh Magennis (Wigan Athletic).
89’Post update
Okay Yokuslu (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89’Post update
Foul by Max Power (Wigan Athletic).
88’Substitution
Substitution, Wigan Athletic. Tom Pearce replaces James McClean.
87’Post update
Attempt saved. Josh Magennis (Wigan Athletic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Max Power.
85’Substitution
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Taylor Gardner-Hickman replaces John Swift.
84’Post update
John Swift (West Bromwich Albion) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the centre of the box.
81’Post update
Attempt blocked. Daryl Dike (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
78’Post update
Attempt missed. Ashley Fletcher (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by James McClean.
76’Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
76’Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Joshua Griffiths (West Bromwich Albion).
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Source: bbc.com