Report | Wigan Athletic 0 Swansea City 2

A Joel Piroe brace secured a third win in four for Swansea City as they saw off Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.

The Dutchman opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a left footed finish beyond Ben Amos and doubled the advantage just after the half-hour mark finishing a fine sweeping move by the Swans.

And he could have completed his hat-trick at the end of the half, clattering the crossbar shortly before the break.

Wigan created more chances in the second period. Will Keane volleyed over from the edge of the box while Andy Fisher made a brilliant stop to deny Thelo Aasgaard  and keep his third clean sheet in four games as the Swans went on to take three points.

Russell Martin made four changes to the side that had drawn with Coventry City just 72 hours earlier. Joel Latibeaudiere, Jay Fulton, Joe Allen and Jamie Paterson all game into the starting XI with the latter making his first start since December 17.

The home side started the match by pressing really aggressively and that, coupled by a little sloppiness from the Swans, meant that it was Wigan who had the early chances.

Fisher was called into action with just two minutes on the clock as the Latics picked up a loose ball, but the effort from Tom Naylor deflected kindly and the keeper was down to his right to make the stop, while Nathan Wood was on hand to clear an effort off the line.

However, when the Swans did get out, the movement and passing of a front three made up of Piroe, Paterson and Olivier Ntcham caused the home side all sorts of problems.

Piroe’s first chance of the half came inside 10 minutes when he fired against the stanchion, and he almost had another when Charlie Hughes sliced a clearance high into the air but it wouldn’t drop in time for the striker.

He didn’t have to wait long for another opportunity, however.

Once again, Paterson got the better of his opposite number and skipped inside before bending a ball in towards the back post. Joe Allen stepped over it and Piroe arrived completely alone just beyond the far post to stroke home left footed for his 40th goal in Swans colours.

The Swans didn’t have everything their own way however with Wigan looking to pounce on any mistake as the visitors looked to play out from the back.

Brave defending by Latibeaudiere kept out Naylor’s lashed effort from close range after Fisher’s punched clearance from a corner fell at the feet of the midfielder, while Fisher was also needed to deny Ashley Fletcher when he headed on target from Max Power’s free-kick delivery.

However, the Swans were soon on the attack again. Ntcham fired just wide when he intercepted a loose pass out of the Wigan defence 20-yards out.

Paterson looked to be through on goal moments later, but stumbled under pressure from Hughes in the Wigan box, but referee Sam Allison waved away the Swans man’s claims for a penalty.

Piroe extended the lead just after the half-hour mark finishing off a sensational move by the visitors which began with Fisher and had one-touch passing which sliced through the Wigan press.

Ryan Manning found Fulton, who stabbed the ball out to Piroe for the Dutchman to side-foot beyond the keeper to complete a fine, flowing move by the Swans.

Half chances followed for both sides. Wood blocked an effort by Fletcher and Ntcham drilled one wide of the upright.

The Swans had two big opportunities to extend their lead before the break. Allen somehow headed over from six yards after meeting Manning’s excellent free-kick delivery, and Piroe clattered the crossbar from Matt Grimes’ ball.

The second half started with the Swans quickly back on the front foot. Fisher picked out the run of Paterson with an excellent ball into the feet of the forward. He twisted and turned but eventually had his effort blocked.

The Swans exerted their control over proceedings in the early stages of the second half but without creating the chances they’d managed in the first half.

On the hour mark both sides made changes and the game opened up somewhat.

Sub Josh Magennis’ left-footed effort from the edge of the box was dragged some way wide of the target.

Ollie Cooper – who replaced Allen – had an effort from inside the box blocked after Ntcham picked him out, while Wigan replacement Keane had the ball pinched off his toes by Ben Cabango.

Keane’s best chance came 20 minutes from time. He met a cross from the righ on the half-volley but hooked it high into the 778 members of the travelling Jack Army behind the goal.

Aasgaard – who also came off the bench – forced a brilliant save from Fisher at full stretch as his curling effort looked destined for the top corner.

The Swans mounted last attack in the final minute. Cullen got the better of Ryan Nyambe on the halfway line after the Swans cleared a Wigan corner, but he couldn’t pull away from the Wigan man. He checked inside and stood the ball up for Cooper, but it was a tame header into the hands of Amos.

Not that it mattered in the final analysis as the Swans claimed a routine win on their travels.

Swansea City: Andy Fisher; Joel Latibeaudiere, Nathan Wood, Ben Cabango, Ryan Manning; Joe Allen (Ollie Cooper 63’), Jay Fulton, Matt Grimes (captain); Olivier Ntcham (Harry Darling 84’), Jamie Paterson (Liam Cullen 73’); Joel Piroe.

Substitutes: Lewis Webb, Luke Cundle, Morgan Whittaker, Kyle Naughton.

Wigan Athletic: Ben Amos, Ryan Nyambe, Tom Naylor (Tom Pearce 79’), Jack Whatmough, Max Power, James McClean (Scott Smith 79’), Callum Lang, Christ Tiehi (Thelo Aasgaard 55’), Ashley Fletcher (Josh Magennis 55’), Tendayi Darikwa (captain), Charlie Hughes (Will Keane 65’).

Substitutes: Jamie Jones, Omar Rekik.