Wigan Athletic boss admits 'levels' dropped in defeat at Fleetwood Town

It was a case of 'After The Lord Mayor's Show' on the Fylde coast, as Latics followed one of their best results of the campaign with arguably their worst as Fleetwood gave themselves a relegation lifeline.

"Look, I really can't criticise any of my players too much, after what they gave me on Tuesday," said the Latics boss.

"But the levels were definitely lower today, just in some really key moments, when a tackle had to be made, when we had to defend our box, blocking shots, when we had to spring back.

"I have to give Fleetwood lots of credit, they were better than us at those really fundamental things, and I think that's why they won the game.

"We spoke after the Bolton game, and some of our players, about a real desire and determination to win that game.

"But definitely our levels didn't live up to that game, although I can't criticise the mentality.

"Once again, they gave me absolutely everything...it's just that in those key moments, our intensity wasn't quite the same as it was in midweek.

"I was concerned before the game whether we could go again, that was my worry, that's why I made the changes I did.

"In the end, that's probably what happened."

Fleetwood were ahead inside 15 minutes, when on-loan Celtic midfielder Bosun Lawal played a one-two and volleyed home in clinical fashion past Sam Tickle.

Credit Latics for the response, with Stephen Humphrys firing home within two minutes from just inside the Fleetwood box.

The boisterous Latics fans behind the goal were celebrating again on 26 minutes when Martial Godo’s cross was headed home in emphatic style by Thelo Aasgaard.

However, again the lead didn’t last long, with Lawal scoring his and Fleetwood’s second goal from just outside the area.

Fleetwood took a 3-2 lead nine minutes after the restart when Gavin Kilkenny’s shot took a massive deflection off Aasgaard, meaning no chance for Tickle.

After another mistake at the back from Latics, only a phenomenal block from Luke Chambers denied Jayden Stockley a free hit on goal.

Sadly for Latics, the respite was only temporary, as Stockley planted a free header into the Wigan net to make it 4-2.

Only a brilliant block from Scott Smith – part of a quadruple substitution – prevented a fifth goal for Fleetwood before, within seconds, Aasgaard smashed a shot against the Fleetwood bar.

But the home side continued to dominate and look the more likely scorers of a seventh goal in the game.

And only an absolutely shocking miss from Fleetwood substitute Promise Omochere – who was clean through only to spoon the ball wide of the goal – prevented further embarrassment.

"After going in front, at moments like that, you almost have to double down and go after them again," added Maloney.

"But at really fundamental moments, you have to be at it...if you don't, that's when you get hurt.

"They have good players, I know Lawal from up north, he's a real talent.

"If you give him chances on the edge of the box, he's going to take them, and that's exactly what happened."