Millwall 2-1 Wigan- Match Report




Tough task ahead for Rosler

Uwe Rosler was given an indication of how hard his job at Wigan will be as he watched from the stands as his new charges fell to a 2-1 defeat against Millwall at the New Den.


Rosler was officially appointed on Saturday morning to replace Owen Coyle but the former Brentford manager could only look on as strikes from Steve Morison and Jermaine Easter put the Lions two goals to the good.


The Latics did pull one back late on through James McArthur but it was too little to late and they slipped to their fifth successive defeat in all competitions.


The hosts pushed forward from the kick-off and had a loud penalty appeal turned down in the opening minute when Stephen Crainey appeared to pull down Liam Feeney as they challenged for the ball.


Millwall remained on the attack and Morison put them ahead after just 90 seconds. Martyn Waghorn's corner was only half cleared by the Wigan defence. The ball was drilled back into the visitor's box and after a scramble around the six-yard box, the ball fell to Morison who fired past Scott Carson.


The hosts had another penalty appeal turned down before James McClean twice made Millwall goalkeeper David Forde make sharp saves and Scott Malone headed Emerson Boyce's shot over his own bar.


The hosts nearly doubled their lead on 34 minutes when Martyn Woolford worked his way into the box but he saw his shot crash back off the post.


The second half started scrappily, with Grant Holt having a tame shot on the turn easily saved by Forde while at the other end Morison slipped when preparing to shoot.


On 58 minutes, Waghorn's free kick from the right hand side was spilled by Carson but the keeper managed to catch the ball on the second attempt before a Millwall player could reach it.


A minute later Ben Watson shot wide for the visitors from the edge of the box after Liam Trotter had deflected a cross into his path.


This appeared to unnerve the home side who started giving the ball away sloppily and helped Wigan grow in confidence, Holt twice coming close to getting on the end of crosses.


But it was Steve Lomas' troops who got the crucial second goal in the 82nd minute, Easter calmly slotting past Carson after reaching Trotter's long ball on the counter attack.


Wigan's response was immediate as McArthur pulled a goal back a minute later with a shot from just outside the box but it was too little too late in an end-to-end finale that saw Millwall extend their unbeaten home run to seven games.


Source: PA

Source: PA