Wigan 0 Leeds United 1: Mowatt keeps Leeds on an upward path

Neil Redfearn admitted Alex Mowatt’s goal illuminated an otherwise low-quality game that could have gone either way.
Leeds United's Alex Mowatt celebrates his goal with Steve Morison.Leeds United's Alex Mowatt celebrates his goal with Steve Morison.
Leeds United's Alex Mowatt celebrates his goal with Steve Morison.

Mowatt’s strike five minutes after the restart proved to be the difference, with Wigan dominating the majority of the game but proving unable to provide a piece of magic to break through a determined Leeds rearguard.

Redfearn, who also felt Leeds should have had a first-half penalty when Billy Sharp tangled with Gaetan Bong, has overseen a remarkable turnaround in fortunes since the turn of the year, with Mowatt’s goal keeping them on track for a top-half finish.

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“It was a bit of quality and brilliance that was probably not in keeping with the rest of the game,” said the Leeds chief.

“But if anyone was going to win the game, it was going to be us.

“I thought we should have had a blatant penalty in the first half, but we don’t seem to get these decisions.

“I thought we had a resoluteness about us, and a real toughness to get across the line again.

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“It’s been a facet of our performances in recent weeks and months, and it was nice to get the points.”

Redfearn was pleased to leave with the three points given the difficult playing surface that he feels will handicap Wigan in their survival fight. “It was a tough surface to play on – I feel a little bit for Wigan in that respect,” added Redfearn, a former Latics midfielder.

Wigan Athletic: Carson, Boyce (Kvist Jorgensen 67), Maguire, Pearce, Bong, Pennant (Cowie 46), Perch, Kim, Ojo, McClean, Fortune (McKay 78). Unused substitutes: McCann, Barnett, Al Habsi, Waghorn.

Leeds United: Silvestri, Wootton, Bamba, Bellusci, Berardi, Mowatt, Cook, Murphy, Charlie Taylor, Sharp (Antenucci 88), Morison (Cani 87). Unused substitutes: Adryan, Stuart Taylor, Doukara, Del Fabro, Philips.

Referee: G Eltringham (Tyne & Wear).

Man of the match: Alex Mowatt.