Wigan Athletic chief: We didn't think Morsy could shoot!

Sam Morsy celebrates scoring a cracking opening goal against Hull

The Egyptian midfielder had only been given the green light to play after the FA overturned his weekend red card at Brentford just hours before the game.

But he took full advantage to notch his first goal of the season in fine style from 30 yards, setting Latics on the way to a fourth win of the campaign that takes them up to seventh in the table.

“We’re always telling him not to shoot, because he can’t, and then he goes and sticks one in from there!” laughed first-team coach Barry, sent out for media duties by Paul Cook.

“And he certainly showed how important he is to us with a fine performance.”

Morsy’s 21st-minute strike was followed by Josh Windass’ first goal for Latics eight minutes before the break.

The former Rangers forward was in the right place at the right time to nod home Lee Evans’ cross, against the club where his father, Dean, enjoys hero status.

“Josh is a fantastic player, and his numbers up in Scotland suggest he knows where the goal is,” enthused Barry.

“He takes chances every day in training, he’s scored his first goal now, and long may that continue.

“Obviously it was great for him to score against Hull - knowing the relationship he has with his father he’ll have loved to score against Hull more than anybody!

“They have a lot of banter in the family and that will have given him something to smile about.”

Hull boss Nigel Adkins, the former Latics goalkeeper, felt the Tigers deserved something from the game, after making such a positive start.

But after coming through the first 20 minutes unscathed, Barry felt Latics warranted the three points, which they held on for despite Jared Bowen pulling one back just before the break.

“I thought we were very good value for it,” he added.

“Hull gave it to us for the first 10 minutes, and our lack of confidence from the weekend was exposed a bit.

“We ground out a foothold in the game, and from there we grew into the game.

“I think the timing of their goal was a bit of a kick in the teeth for us, and checked us a little bit.

“At 2-0 up we were in control of the game, and if we could have taken that into half-time it would have given us a lift.

“But that’s the Championship, it’s a tough league, and we just have to look at trying to manage games even better than we have been doing.”