Match ends, Wigan Athletic 1, Northampton Town 0.
Michael Jacobs popped up with the only goal as Wigan Athletic beat Northampton Town to move up to second place in League One.
Jacobs, who started his career with the Cobblers, rifled home a beauty from 30 yards just after half-time to settle a game that the home side should have won more comfortably.
Despite dominating for the majority, Wigan could not find further goals, and were almost made to pay by a former player of their own.
However, centre-back Leon Barnett, who joined the Cobblers over the summer, saw his close-range effort superbly saved by Jamie Jones in the Wigan goal.
Sam Morsy came close to doubling the lead in stoppage-time but, after rounding the goalkeeper, his shot hit the far post and rolled across the goal-line before being cleared.
Gavin Massey also came close to scoring for Wigan, who have now won three matches without conceding a goal since suffering their only league defeat so far at table-topping Shrewsbury earlier this month.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Wigan
Formation 4-3-2-1
- 23Jones
- 2Byrne
- 22Dunkley
- 33Burn
- 26James
- 5MorsyBooked at 44mins
- 8Evans
- 17JacobsBooked at 58mins
- 11MasseySubstituted forColcloughat 75'minutes
- 18RobertsSubstituted forPowerat 84'minutes
- 9GriggSubstituted forToneyat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Elder
- 4Perkins
- 6Power
- 10Toney
- 14Bruce
- 27Colclough
- 31Sarkic
Northampton
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 13Ingram
- 2Moloney
- 5Barnett
- 6Taylor
- 3Buchanan
- 26Poole
- 11Powell
- 4KasimSubstituted forLongat 62'minutes
- 29Grimes
- 27HanleySubstituted forBowditchat 75'minutesBooked at 78mins
- 9RichardsSubstituted forRevellat 68'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Cornell
- 7Waters
- 8Foley
- 10Revell
- 15Bowditch
- 16Pierre
- 19Long
- Referee:
- Anthony Backhouse
- Attendance:
- 7,777
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away2
- Corners
- Home8
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away20
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Wigan Athletic 1, Northampton Town 0.
Post update
Corner, Wigan Athletic. Conceded by Ash Taylor.
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Sam Morsy (Wigan Athletic) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box.
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Lee Evans (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Regan Poole (Northampton Town).
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Attempt missed. Daniel Powell (Northampton Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high following a set piece situation.
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Foul by Sam Morsy (Wigan Athletic).
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Matt Grimes (Northampton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Attempt saved. Ivan Toney (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Corner, Wigan Athletic. Conceded by Regan Poole.
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Attempt missed. Lee Evans (Wigan Athletic) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
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Michael Jacobs (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Regan Poole (Northampton Town).
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Hand ball by Alex Revell (Northampton Town).
Substitution
Substitution, Wigan Athletic. Max Power replaces Gary Roberts.
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Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Dan Burn.
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Foul by Cheyenne Dunkley (Wigan Athletic).
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Daniel Powell (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Ryan Colclough (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick on the left wing.