Carlisle United Football Club

United's final fixture of 2023 took them to Wigan Athletic for the first time since 1997.

It was the Blues' first-ever visit to the DW Stadium for a competitive fixture, and manager Paul Simpson made just one change from the side that drew at Fleetwood Town on Boxing Day.

Ben Barclay stepped into the line-up in place of Taylor Charters, who dropped to the bench. Corey Whelan also took a spot among the substitutes having missed out at Highbury.

The hosts started on the front foot and came close to taking the lead in the second minute - a deep corner was headed back into a dangerous area by Charlie Hughes and Liam Morrison flicked a strike off the upright. 

United responded and had their first foray into the Wigan box when Sean Maguire's clever touch sent Ryan Edmondson away down the left flank. He swapped passes with Josh Emmanuel before going down under pressure just inside the box, but referee Darren Drysdale waved away the penalty appeals.

Josh Magennis then flashed a header wide for the hosts before Sean Maguire's tempting cross couldn't find a target as the two teams continued to trade chances.

But Wigan would take the lead on 16 minutes, with the goal coming from the penalty spot. Emmanuel brought down Stephen Humphrys in the box and Magennis stepped-up to slam his penalty into the bottom corner - beating Gabe Breeze despite the stopper guessing the right way.

The Latics continued to push forward and Liam Shaw almost doubled their lead when he latched onto a through ball and fired narrowly over from the edge of the area under close attention from Jack Armer.

Carlisle still posed a threat though and after Maguire held-up play well, it took a brave block to take the sting out of Alfie McCalmont's goal-bound strike from 18 yards.

Emmanuel was then the next to threaten. Owen Moxon pinched possession on halfway and found Maguire, with the summer signing teeing-up the full-back who advanced into the area but sent his curling effort high of the goal.

It was Wigan who struck next, however, as Morrison reacted quickest to fire home from six yards after a corner was flicked on into his path.

Shaw then glanced a header wide while Thelo Aasgaard skewed a shot wide as the hosts continued to ask questions before half-time.

But it was Carlisle who started brightly after the interval. Jack Robinson saw an early strike blocked by a home defender and Sam Tickle then had to make a fingertip stop to deny Edmondson when he cleverly flicked Moxon's cross goalwards.

Moxon himself would threaten next, driving past the ost from 20 yards, before Breeze was forced into his first stop of the half as he got down to hold Jonny Smith's low effort.

United continued to push and Armer had a fine chance when a low cross found him in space in the box, but he couldn't get the desired connection.

Simpson introduced Joe Garner in a bid to find a crucial goal and the striker came agonisingly close to reducing the deficit shortly after his introduction, connecting with Robinson's tempting free-kick but steering his header wide.

A string of set pieces allowed the Blues to keep the pressure on and Tickle was again called into action to hold Barclay's side-footed volley from a Moxon delivery.

Charlie Wyke then fired over for Shaun Maloney's side shortly after he was introduced, but it was Carlisle who continued to have the better of the chances.

Garner saw a shot deflected wide and Dan Butterworth arrowd an effort high of the bar late on, but there was to be no late drama as Wigan held strong to keep United at bay.

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Goals

Wigan Athletic - Magennis (16), Morrison (36)

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Bookings

Wigan Athletic - Clare (45+2), Morrison (66), Shaw (72), Watts (90+6)

Carlisle United - Edmonson (45+2), Robinson (47), Barclay (54), Mellish (60), Moxon (82), Maguire (90+1)

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Teams

Wigan Athletic - Tickle, Clare (Watts 86), Hughes, Morrison, Sessegnon, Shaw, S Smith, J Smith (McManaman 67), Aasgaard (Adeeko 67), Humphrys (Jones 50), Magennis (Wyke 67). Subs: Amos, Godo

Carlisle United - Breeze, Armer, Moxon, Lavelle, Edmondson (Garner 62), McCalmont (Butterworth 76), Robinson (Charters 76), Mellish, Maguire, Barclay, Emmanuel. Subs: Holy, Gibson, Whelan, McGeouch