Shaun Maloney hails 'very big victory' as Wigan Athletic get off the mark by beating Crawley Town

Having lost their opening three matches in all competitions, Latics are finally up and running thanks to Thelo Aasgaard's header on the half-hour, that went in off visiting defender Joy Mukena.

The last quarter of the game was less than comfortable viewing, as Crawley dominated the ball and were camped in Wigan territory.

But a real backs-to-the-wall rearguard effort saw Latics hang on for a priceless three points.

"It felt like a very big victory for us, very hard fought," said Maloney. "I maybe didn't see the last 20 minutes going like that, but sometimes you just need to find a way to win a game.

"I really liked what we did in the first half, we really went after them and caused them problems.

“In the second half you probably saw a group of men who were desperate to win a game.

"We definitely found ourselves dropping deeper and deeper, but we found a way to win.

"We played amazingly well in our first game against Charlton, the performance was so good, and we lost the game to a mistake at the end.

"The thing about football is sometimes you win games you don't deserve to win, and you lose games you don't deserve to lose.

"Today was a bit strange, because we didn't have a great deal of the ball, but I never felt under massive threat in terms of them creating lots and lots of chances.

"They're a good side, they played very well, they had a lot of possession, especially with their goalkeeper, who starts everything off.

"But for the effort and desire our players put in, I thought we got what we deserved in terms of the result.

"I honestly didn't feel under any more pressure to get a result, but I definitely saw it in my players.

"They want to win and get points on the board, and you saw us dropping deeper and deeper in the second half to make sure we got the win.

"It felt like a couple of games last season where it was important for us to get the win, and I'm delighted we did so again."

After back-to-back league setbacks against Charlton and Reading – and a Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out defeat at the hands of Barnsley – it was all about the result at the Brick Community Stadium.

And Aasgaard was on the spot on the half-hour mark to nod home Luke Chambers’ left-wing cross, via a slight deflection off Mukena.

Credit to Crawley, they have it a real go in the second period, and Sam Tickle had to be alert to twice deny Ade Adeyemo, with Chambers also having to hack the ball away from deep inside the six-yard box.

Dion Rankine and Silko Thomas were impressive down the flanks for Latics, with the latter having a ‘goal’ chalked off for offside early on, before being denied by Joe Wollacott in the second period.

Joe Hugill fired over the top late on, with Latics also losing midfielder Matt Smith early in the second half to cramp.