Maja hero for Potters
JOSH MAJA had a dream debut as Stoke ended Wigan’s 20-game unbeaten run.
The Potters’ deadline-day signing starred with an early opener before leading scorer Jacob Brown finished the job with his eighth goal of the season.
Welshman Gwion Edwards then put a real damper on a miserable day for the League One promotion chasers when he was sent off for a second yellow late on.
Potters boss Michael O’Neill said: “Josh took the goal brilliantly, that’s what he’s about, and he’ll continue improving with the goals he gets.
“We gave the ball away too cheaply in the first half for my liking, but we could have two more goals, to be honest.”
Bordeaux loan striker Maja fired the hosts into a deserved 14th-minute lead with his first goal in nine months.
Former Latics midfielder Nick Powell ran the show for the Potters against his former club.
And it was his brilliant ball which threaded Tyrese Campbell through to set up the opener.
Campbell’s clever pull-back saw defender Jason Kerr slip at the worst possible moment, allowing Maja to easily slot home from close range. And then Brown effectively put the contest to bed shortly after the hour mark with a fine strike.
Fellow substitute Steven Fletcher crashed a shot on the crossbar in the dying stages and Brown was thwarted by a fine a save from the Latics’ goalkeeper Jamie Jones.
Wigan manager Leam Richardson admitted: “We were very competitive in large parts – but you could see the quality that Stoke had.”
STOKE CITY: Bursik 6; Wilmot 7, Harwood-Bellis 6, Moore 7, Tymon7; Allen 7, Thompson 6 (Clucas 61, 5); Campbell 7 (Tezgel 77), Powell 8 (Fox 70, 5), Wright-Phillips 6 (Brown 61, 7); Maja 7 (Fletcher 78).
Subs not used: Smith, Chester, Bonham, Duhaney.
WIGAN ATHLETIC: Jones 5; Power 5 (Darikwa 45, 5), Watts 6, Kerr 5, Bennett 6; Rea 5, Bayliss 6; Edwards 3, McGrath 6, Massey 6; Magennis 6 (Humphrys 63, 5).
Subs not used: Amos, Tilt, Lang, Long, McHugh, Sze, Baningme.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Nick Powell. The midfielder dazzled against his former club and made the Potters purr.
REFEREE: Geoff Eltringham 7.