Wigan Athletic chief bemoans Lincoln City setback - 'We were well worthy'
Ryan Lowe could not hide his disappointment after Wigan Athletic's 1-0 home defeat to Lincoln City, feeling his side were 'well worthy of coming away with a point'.
Jack Moylan scored the only goal of the game at the Brick, which leaves Latics only out of the League One drop zone on goal difference.
On-loan Stockport midfielder Owen Moxon had the two best chances for Latics, sending one effort fizzing just over the bar and having another shot cleared off the line by Adam Reach.
At the other end, Sam Tickle made a fine save to deny Rob Street, who sent another effort just past the post inside two minutes.
But Latics were unable to score a goal for the fourth time in their last five league outings.
"The result was disappointing of course, because no-one likes losing games of football," said Lowe, who switched to a back four, with Jensen Weir the makeshift right-back.
"But I thought the lads were excellent in that second half, and well worthy of coming away with a point.
"We were on the front foot more, we gave Lincoln some problems, had a shot cleared off the line from Mox.
"But we just didn't have enough quality in the final third to finish it off, and get the ball in the back of the net.
"First half, I thought was a bit cagey, and we concede a goal we know we can do better with.
"Their lad's done well, he's dropped a shoulder and got his shot away, despite the best efforts of a couple of our lads to keep it out.
"Second half, I thought there was only one team that was going to score a goal...and if we'd managed to get one, when we haven't really been playing well, it would have given us a boost.
"But it wasn't meant to be.
"We changed the shape of the side, and I'm not naive enough to think we never need to change anything.
"I'm open to playing different formations, and we just thought getting Maleace (Asamoah Jnr) into space down the left-hand side might cause them problems...which it did.
"We had a couple of days on the training pitch where we changed things up, and the lads took everything on board.
"Yes we were a bit sloppy with their goal, I must say, but I thought the lads did everything for the shirt and for the fans to get back into the game, which pleased me.
"Overall, though, I'm disappointed with the result, because it's another loss."
Moylan’s goal after 24 minutes was the difference at the Brick, the No.10 tricking his way through the defence before lifting the ball over the advancing Tickle.
The Latics custodian also saved well from Street, who had stabbed another effort wide inside two minutes.
At the other end, Moxon twice came close to giving Latics a share of the spoils, sending one rasping drive inches over the top, before seeing another goalbound effort superbly repelled by Reach.
Callum Wright also saw a stinging strike tipped over the top by George Wickens, but Latics slipped closer to the dreaded bottom four ahead of Saturday’s tough trip to resurgent Peterborough United.