Wigan Athletic 2 Charlton Athletic 0: Addicks suffer second defeat on the trot
BY LOUIS MENDEZ
Charlton fell to a second successive Championship defeat as they were beaten 2-0 by Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.
A goal in either half, both from central defender Chey Dunkley, secured all three points for the Latics – their first win since the opening day of the season.
The South Londoners failed to score for the second game in a row since Lyle Taylor suffered knee injury while on international duty with Montserrat.
The game started in cagey fashion, although there was a sniff of an opening for the Addicks as Deji Oshilaja’s cross was prodded wide by Tomer Hemed.
Paul Cook’s side were only beaten four times on their own patch throughout the entirety of last season and they started to take control of the contest as the half wore on.
Dillon Phillips had already denied Jamal Lowe but he was powerless to prevent the hosts breaking the deadlock on 22 minutes.
A deep corner eluded the South Londoners’ defence and Dunkley was on-hand to volley home at the far-post – the defender’s second goal in as many games for the ‘Tics.
The home side’s tails were up and Sam Morsy stung the palms of Phillips as he looked for a second from range.
Charlton were unable to find a way back on to level terms despite forcing a couple corners before the interval – but they did have a golden opportunity shortly after the restart.
Oshilaja had made ground down the right and his dangerous ball in looked destined to be turned home by Hemed, only for Dunkley to somehow hook it over his own crossbar. The resulting corner was cleared but fell to Conor Gallagher. His volley deflected into the path of Tom Lockyer but he dragged his effort wide from eight yards out.
Jamal Lowe was denied by a superb block from Lockyer at the other end before Bowyer introduced Macauley Bonne and Chuks Aneke into the action as he looked to find a way back into the contest.
Former Leyton Orient man Bonne did make home goalkeeper David Marshall work with a shot on the turn but the home side doubled their lead moments later.
Again Dunkley wasn’t picked up from a deep corner, with the defender this time heading beyond Phillips to bag his second of the game and sentence the Addicks to their second defeat on the trot.
Home stopper David Marshall did make a fine save late on from Josh Cullen’s header as Charlton had a late rally but they were unable to find the goal to garner hope of a late comeback.