Latics’ joy at a slam Dunk
PAUL COOK saluted unlikely Wigan hero Chey Dunkley after the defender’s double sunk misfiring Charlton.
Dunkley eased the pressure building on Cook after the Latics got only a second win of the season.
“We’re delighted for Chey, he’s such a good lad,” said Cook, after his 100th league game in charge of the Latics. “He epitomises everything that’s good about football, he gives everything that he’s got. We’re very fond of him, he’s one of the best lads we have.
“The lads were joking at the end of the game. They were saying they wouldn’t let him go up for a corner to try and get his hat-trick.”
Dunkley slotted home Charlie Mulgrew’s inswinging corner in the 22nd minute and then netted with a bullet header with 20 minutes remaining to condemn the Addicks to their first consecutive defeats in 2019.
“It’s small steps at the minute,” added Cook. “It’s been a tough start for us, but I’m delighted to win, it was a very strong performance from us.”
Addicks boss Lee Bowyer blasted: “Disappointing is an understatement, that’s the worst we’ve played since I’ve been in charge.
“We created numerous chances but we were not ruthless enough in front of goal.
“There’s no positives. We should have got something out of the game as bad as we played. Talk of us being in the promotion race this early is rubbish. It’s a tough league.”
Jamal Lowe tested Addicks keeper Dillon Phillips with a stinging drive after quarter of an hour.
But the opener was not far around the corner when Dunkley combined well with his fellow centre-back to sweep home from closerange.
Skipper Sam Morsy tried his luck from distance but Phillips was equal to the effort.
Darren Pratley was lucky not to receive a red card after raising his hands in an altercation with Joe Williams, but the Addicks midfielder escaped.
Tomer Hemed came within a whisker of levelling seven minutes after the break, but goalscorer Dunkley made a fine interception to turn Deji Oshilaja’s cross away.
Scottish international keeper David Marshall produced two fine late saves to deny Tom Lockyer and Josh Cullen but Dunkley had done the damage. WIGAN CHARLTON 4 ........ Shots on Target ......... 3 6 ........ Shots off Target .........6 9 ................Corners .................5 16 ................. Fouls .................. 13 3 ............... Offsides ..................1 75.7 Passing Success % 74.4 325....... Total Passes ........ 336 48.9 .... Possession % ....... 51.1 57.3 ..Territorial Adv % .. 42.7