Walsall 1 Wigan 2 - Report and pictures
Substitute Yanic Wildschut's last-minute winner earned Wigan a 2-1 win at Walsall, reports Matt Maher from the Banks's Stadium.
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The Dutch midfielder smashed home from the edge of the box to earn the Latics what could be a vital three points in the League One promotion race.
Conor McAleny had earlier put the visitors ahead late in the first half with a vicious strike from 25 yards out.
Sam Mantom's equally stunning effort looked to have earned the Saddlers a point before Wildschut's late heroics.
The win lifts the visitors over the hosts and up to second in the League One table.
And for much of the game, they were better than the sluggish Saddlers, who failed to spring to life until Mantom's leveller midway through the second period.
Walsall (4-2-3-1): Etheridge, Demetriou, Downing, Preston (Cook 90), Taylor, Chambers, Mantom, Forde, Sawyers, Lalkovic, Bradshaw.
Subs not used: Flanagan, Morris, Kinsella, Morris, Kouhyar, Roberts (gk).
Wigan (4-1-4-1): Jaaskelainen, Daniels (Wabara 85), Morgan, Pearce, McCann, Morsy, McAleny (Davies 87), Perkins, Power, Colclough (Wildschut 74), Grigg.
Subs not used: Flores, Vuckic, Hendry, Nicholls (gk).[/breakout]
After that, Milan Lalkovic might have won it for the hosts but was denied twice by visiting goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.
For the second game running Matt Preston was drafted into defence in place of James O'Connor, who again missed out with a dead leg.
Tom Bradshaw, who had seen limited action in training during the week, was fit enough to start though there was no place in the 18 for Rico Henry.
Maz Kouhyar, who signed his first professional deal with the club earlier this week, was on the bench.
The opening minutes of the game was low on chances but high on yellow cards as Mantom, Lalkovic and Wigan's Dave Perkins all had their names entered into referee Iain Williamson's notebook.
It was scrappy stuff, with off target long-range efforts from Perkins, Max Power and Craig Morgan the only attempts from either side.
Former Saddler Will Grigg then spurned a great chance to break the deadlock on the half-hour mark.
Perkins beat Jason Demetriou and crossed but, from six yards out, Grigg was unable to direct his effort on goal, with the presence of Preston perhaps enough to put the striker off.
Wigan continued to ask questions however and took the lead six minutes, before the break thanks to a wonder strike from McAleny.
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The on-loan Everton star dispossessed Preston before lashing a shot from 25 yards out which dipped over home goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and under the bar.
Now well on top, the visitors might have increased their lead before the break but Grigg was unable to get the final touch after Donervon Daniels drilled the ball across the face of goal.
Grigg also forced Etheridge into a save with a low shot, while McAleny fizzed a free-kick inches over the bar.
The Saddlers were lacking spark but made a bright start to the second period, Demetriou seeing a shot blocked as the Wigan defence came under pressure for the first time.
Lalkovic also drilled a shot wide, while at the other end, Grigg headed wide from a Ryan Colclough cross.
It was the visitors still carrying the greater threat, with both McAleny and Grigg both narrowly off target with efforts from the edge of the box.
The Saddlers looked short on ideas but then, out of nowhere, drew level midway through the second-half.
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Lalkovic won a free-kick 25 yards from goal and though Demetriou hit the wall, Mantom drilled a fierce first-time shot past Jaaskelainen.
Seconds later, the hosts almost went ahead as Lalkovic pounced on a mistake but Jaaskelainen saved both the Slovakian's initial shot and follow up.
Regardless, the game was completely transformed with the Saddlers now brimming with confidence, Anthony Forde flashing an effort from distance just wide.
Wigan still looked dangerous, however, with Grigg spurning another chance, pulling his shot wide after escaping from Preston.
At the other end, Lalkovic drove straight at Jaaskelainen, while the Wigan goalkeeper was also forced to tip over a curling Forde effort.
The Saddlers looked more likely winners but were left stunned when Wildschut picked up the ball on the edge of the box and lashed past Etheridge to win it.
