MX23RW : Thursday, May 9 18:01:14| >> :600:360310:360310:
May 5, 2019 at 12.30pm UK at ​The DW Stadium (Wigan)
Attendance: 10,859
WiganWigan Athletic
1-0
Millwall
Garner (15')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Result: Joe Garner hands Wigan winning end to season

Result: Garner hands Wigan winning end to season
© Reuters
Cook's men wrap up campaign with win over Millwall.

Joe Garner's first-half goal ensured Wigan finished their Sky Bet Championship campaign on a high with a 1-0 home victory over Millwall.

Paul Cook's men had been in danger of facing the drop until as recently as Easter but an impressive end to the season saw them finish a dozen places above the relegation zone.

With neither time having anything, only pride, to play for, there was predictably a flat atmosphere inside the DW Stadium in the early stages.

Millwall were the first to threaten, with former Latics loanee Ryan Tunnicliffe's cross finding Lee Gregory, whose shot was off target.

At the other end, Garner's shot from 25 yards was parried out by David Martin, but Wigan could not capitalise.

Antonee Robinson then made headway down the left, and his cross was only just in front of Anthony Pilkington, who would have had a tap-in.

But Wigan were not to be denied and, after Nick Powell's shot was parried out by Martin, Garner smashed home with his left foot for what proved to be the only goal of the game.

Garner and Powell were dovetailing nicely in attack, and the former was claiming a penalty after seeing another goalbound shot seemingly blocked by a hand, but the official waved play on.

Millwall thought they had equalised through Ryan Leonard, from Shaun Williams' corner, only for the official to blow his whistle for a free-kick.

The visitors came closer still when Jake Cooper stabbed the ball goalwards, only for Powell to hack the ball away off the Wigan line.

Millwall started the second period in similarly bright fashion, with Christian Walton having to make a magnificent save to deny Gregory, with Tunnicliffe firing the rebound well wide.

It was not Gregory's day, with the striker somehow managing to fail to convert what looked to be a perfect cross from Tunnicliffe.

Wigan also remained a threat, and a sliced volley from Lee Evans turned out to be a fabulous assist for Pilkington, who slotted home – but the flag was up for offside.

The home side sent on 17-year-old Charlie Jolley for his debut, and the youngster immediately tried his luck with a couple of long-range shots.

Wigan also sent on Callum McManaman – out of contract this summer – for the last 15 minutes.

And there were even more emotional scenes with a couple of minutes left as on-loan Chelsea star Reece James – who was made captain for the day – was substituted to a standing ovation.

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Chelsea defender Reece James in action for Wigan Athletic against Leeds United on April 19, 2019
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City37312491226995
2Liverpool37297187226594
3Chelsea37218863392471
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs372311365372870
5Arsenal372071070502067
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd37199965521366
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves37169124744357
8Everton37158145244853
9Leicester CityLeicester37156165148351
10Watford37148155155-450
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham37147164854-649
12Crystal Palace37137174650-446
13Bournemouth37136185365-1245
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle37119173848-1042
15Burnley37117194465-2140
16Southampton37911174464-2038
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3799193456-2236
RCardiff CityCardiff3794243269-3731
RFulham3775253477-4326
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3736282175-5415

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