Wigan 2 Wolves 1 - Report and pictures

Analysis

Walter Zenga did warn them. 'Don't underestimate or disrespect Wigan' was his loud and clear message at yesterday's press conference.

Zenga said he was afraid of this game. He was right to be.

You couldn't accuse Zenga's team of being disrespectful - despite an incredibly frustrating result there were other reasons behind this untimely defeat.

But one of his messages should certainly have been 'score a few goals because you can guarantee an ex-Wolves player will score at least one one'.

Adam Le Fondre, scorer of three goals last season for Wolves, took just five minutes to beat Carl Ikeme.

In doing so he became the fourth ex-Wolves player to net against them already this season - Rajiv van la Parra, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Adam Hammill being the others.

In fact perhaps Wolves should count themselves lucky it was only one, what with Nathan Byrne and Michael Jacobs also featuring here.

After that shaky start, give them their dues, Wolves did recover well and could have led at the break.

As it was they had to settle for a well-taken Prince Oniangue strike and a host of spurned half-chances.

The first half had been a fast-paced, open affair. The second was the exact opposite and, try as Zenga might with three substitutions and a formation change, Wolves just couldn't get going.

They were sluggish in attack and sloppy at the back. There was no zip, no inspiration about their play.

With just two minutes left they paid a very dear price when substitute Will Grigg raced clear of Danny Batth and beat Carl Ikeme.

Defeat was harsh on Wolves, who sorely missed the presence of the absent Jon Dadi Bodvarsson up front.

But they only had themselves to blame for not kicking on in that second half. Perhaps their recent exertions caught up with them. And bad defending contributed to both goals.

Their brisk front three were lively before the break, but petered out late on and there was no plan B.

No one ever said this would be easy, and after losing to the 24th-placed team who were winless in seven, Zenga knows that now more than ever.

Key moments

5 - GOAL - A goal from an ex-Wolves player was inevitable and Adam Le Fondre takes just five minutes to score it. He's given far too much room to score from close range after Max Power gets the better of Silvio down the right.

13 - Wolves respond well and should be level just a few minutes later. A free kick is headed goalwards by Danny Batth - it drops to Romain Saiss who looks set to slam home the rebound but he fires straight at keeper Adam Bogdan from point blank range.

18 - Crucial clearance from Matt Doherty who is alert to the danger and heads Nathan Byrne's cross clear ahead of the unmarked Jordi Gomez.

22 - Helder Costa races forward with Dan Burn for company - he lets fly from 20 yards and it whistles wide.

31 - A corner drops to Batth 10 yards out but he doesn't get enough power on his shot and it's an easy save for Bogdan.

34 - Heart in mouth time as Gomez goes over Prince Oniangue's leg in the box - the referee blows his whistle but he's given a dive and books Gomez.

34 - GOAL - And within a minute Oniangue levels things up. Wolves win back possession near the corner flag and Ivan Cavaleiro plays to Oniangue who coolly picks his spot with a side-footed finish from 18 yards.

41 - Wildschut turns Saiss and drills not far wide from the edge of the box.

52 - Wigan start the second half strongly and Gomez sends a diving header over the bar from Stephen Warnock's cross.

55 - Batth is getting plenty of joy at set pieces. He rises highest at the back stick to meet Teixeira's deep corner and his header is cleared off the line.

65 - After a lifeless 10 minutes both teams make two changes. Wolves, who have been lacking a focal point and offered nothing in open play since the break, send on Paul Gladon and George Saville for Cavaleiro and Teixeira. Wigan call on Will Grigg and Nick Powell in place of Le Fondre and Gomez. Wolves go 4-2-3-1 with Edwards and Saiss sitting, Oniangue and Saville either side of Costa.

77 - It's a dreadfully dull second half and with Wolves still making no headway Zenga sends on Ola John for Oniangue.

78 - Wolves come to life as John plays down the flank for Costa - he cuts inside and fires low at Bogdan.

88 - GOAL - From a long ball forward Grigg shakes off Batth, runs past Ikeme and sidefoots into the net. Wolves don't create another chance and they slip to a heartbreaking defeat.

Position in the table

11th (15 points from 10 games)

Teams

Wigan (4-3-3): Bogdan; Perkins, Buxton, Burn, Warnock; Power, MacDonald, Gomez (Powell, 65); Byrne (Jacobs, 79), Le Fondre (Grigg, 65), Wildschut. Subs: Jaaskelainen, Garbutt, Woolery, Davies.

Goals: Le Fondre (5), Grigg (88)

Wolves (4-3-3): Ikeme; Silvio, Iorfa, Batth (c), Doherty; Edwards, Saiss, Oniangue (John, 77); Costa, Cavaleiro (Gladon, 65), Teixeira (Saville, 65). Subs: Lonergan, Stearman, Borthwick-Jackson, Coady.

Goal: Oniangue (34)

Attendance: 10,723 (1,250 Wolves fans)

Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland)