Match report: Huddersfield 0, Wigan Athletic 2

A goal in either half from Jamal Lowe and Anthony Pilkington handed them a superb 2-0 victory over relegation rivals Huddersfield Town.

The results sees the Latics leapfrog above the Terriers into 17th spot in the table, three points clear of the drop zone.

It was football certainly not as we know it as both teams battled it out inside an empty John Smith's Stadium due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Wigan's players arrived at the stadium in a convoy of cars and the only other people allowed inside were the match officials, club officials and the Press.

The opening exchanges were scrappy as both teams became accustomed to the unfamiliar surroundings.

Indeed without the roar of the visiting supporters, the loudest voice to be heard was Latics manager Paul Cook's as he willed his men on, as well as questioning some of the decisions made by the referee.

It was Huddersfield who had the first opportunity of the proceedings when in the 16th minute Lewis O'Brien got free down the inside left channel.

He centred the ball into the path of Karlan Grant, but his spin and shot was blocked by Joe Williams.

Almost immediately, the Latics responded when Nathan Byrne crossed from the right in the direction of Kieffer Moore. The ball landed at the feet of Kieran Dowell, who ccouldn't quite get a shot away.

Soon after Pilkington should have given the visitors the lead when he twisted and turned inside the area but his left-foot shot from 12 yards was straight at Terriers goalkeeper Jonas Lossl.

The deadlock was broken in the 26th minute when the Latics took the lead through a superby worked goal.

Pilkington released Moore down the right, his cross could only be helped on by Harry Toffolo into the six-yard box where Jamal Lowe was lurking to chest the ball past Lossl.

David Marshall, in the visitors' goal, had to be alert to prevent Huddersfield equalising seven minutes later when he palmed Juninho Bacuna's wicked delivery from a free kick away for a corner.

Buoyed by their first half display, the Latics came out for the second half fired up and they grabbed the all-important second goal in the 48th minute.

Pilkington was the goalscorer, but the goal had a certain amount of fortune to it.

Lowe broke down the left and found Pilkington inside the area. After twisting and turning, his scuffed shut took a wicked deflection of Lewis O'Brien which wrong-footed Lossl and the ball trickled into the corner.

Lowe almost made it 3-0 soon after when he raced down the inside right channel and blasted a shot high into the side netting.

The home side were clearly rattled after that and could only huff and puff as the Latics kept them at bay.

Substitute Alex Pritchard made a few hearts flutter in the visitors' ranks when his left-foot effort from 25 yards went wide of the upright.

And Toffolo brought an acrobatic save out of Marshall when fired a shot from an angle in the 85th minute.

In injury time, a fine piece of skill from Lee Evans gave him the opportunity to shoot but Lossl made a good save and Evans and Joe Garner got in each other's way for the rebound.

Huddersfield: Jonas Lossl, Danny Simpson (Demeaco Duhaney 73), Richard Stearman (Jon Gorenc Stankovic 60), Christopher Schindler, Harry Toffolo, Jonathan Hodge (Andy King 73), Lewis O'Brien (Elias Kachunga 60), Chris Willock, Emile Smith Rowe (Alex Pritchard 52), , Junior Bacuna, Karland Grant

Subs: Joel Coleman, Trevoh Chalaboah, Colin Quaner, Demeaco Duhaney, Matty Daly.

Bookings: Rowe, O'Brien

Wigan: David Marshall; Nathan Byrne, Cedric Kipre, Danny Fox (Kai Naismith 86), Antonee Robinson (Tom Pearce 86);Sam Morsy, Joe Williams (Lee Evans 75); Anthony Pilkington (Michael Jacobs 60), Kieran Dowell, Jamal Lowe; Kieffer Moore (Joe Garner 86) .

Subs :Jamie Jones, Kai Naismith, Tom Pearce, Lewis Macleod,Lee Evans, Joe Gelhardt, Jan Mlakar,

Bookings: Morsy