Caldwell’s return ends in tears for the Latics

GARY Caldwell could not hide his delight at marking his first return to Wigan Athletic as an opposition manager with all three points as Exeter City ran out the winners at the DW Stadium.

Deflected goals from Mo Eisa and Jack Aitchison had Exeter two goals up heading into the final quarter, with Charlie Kelman’s first Wigan goal 19 minutes from time only a consolation.

“I actually thought that was the best that Wigan played in all three matches,” said Caldwell.

“They gave us so many problems in possession, I thought they were excellent, the way they kept rotating their shape and asking questions.

“First half we were outstanding. Second half they put even more men forward and asked even more questions, and put us under a lot of pressure. I know we can play a lot better, but it was a good one to win.”

Wigan came flying out of the traps and Thelo Aasgaard could have had a brace inside the opening ten minutes.

First, the Norway Under-21 international saw a header well saved by Viljami Sinisalo, before he saw a free-kick tipped round a post by the goalkeeper.

However, it was the visitors who took the lead with their first effort after ten minutes when Mo Eisa’s longrange strike took a huge deflection off Charlie Goode which gave Sam Tickle no chance.

Luke Harris then fired just wide of the far post as Exeter continued to press, before Martial Godo sent a free header for Wigan straight at Sinisalo.

Spurred on by a triple substitution at the break, Wigan threatened as onloan QPR striker Charlie Kelman – one of the new-boys – saw a shot well saved by Sinisalo.

Stephen Humphrys then took over from Godo, but Wigan’s task looked forlorn when Jack Aitchison’s shot took another huge diversion off Scott Smith on its way past Tickle with 24 minutes to go.

Wigan pulled one back after 71 minutes when Kelman followed up well after Humphrys’ shot was parried by Sinisalo, but the visitors held on.

For Wigan boss Shaun Maloney, it was a tough result off the back of last weekend’s victory at high-flying Peterborough.

“It was a really tough result to take, because it was everything I want to see from my team moving forward.

“It was just too big a challenge for us to pull it back.”