Substitute Callum McManaman scored a late winner to condemn Posh to a rare defeat.
Peterborough United’s long unbeaten run came to an end at the DW Stadium as substitute Callum McManaman’s strike 10 minutes from time earned spirited Wigan Athletic a 2-1 victory to continue their fine start to the campaign against the backdrop of a points deduction.
The deadlock was broken inside the opening 10 minutes and it came moments after Kwame Poku had taken a heavy touch at one end following a loose Wigan pass, a swift move down the left was finished by Martial GODO who poked home from close-range.
Josh Knight rifled a shot over the crossbar on 10 minutes after a header was only half cleared by the Latics. Hector Kyprianou was cautioned for a foul on 13 minutes by referee Ollie Yates. Kwame Poku fired over from the edge of the penalty area after a patient build-up.
Stephan Humphrys picked out a fine run from Callum Lang on 21 minutes, but the striker was forced to cut inside and his shot went wide of the target. Goalkeeper Sam Tickle produced a fine save to keep out a low drive from Harrison Burrows on 24 minutes.
Humphrys tested Bilokapic from range with a low effort at the other end after the striker found space in a dangerous position. The hosts were a whisker away from making it 2-0 on 33 minutes as Jordan Jones let rip with a swerving effort from fully 35-yards, the ball cannoning off the crossbar before Godo curled the rebound over with his left-foot.
Mason-Clark and Ajiboye both saw low shots kept out by Tickle within 60 seconds of each other as the first half entered the final five minutes at the DW Stadium. Lang fired a free-kick over the top from 30-yards after a foul by Katongo.
A good cross from Ajiboye was headed narrowly wide of his own goal by Morrison on 44 minutes while Kyprianou drove a shot wide from the edge of the area. Lang was cautioned for a blatant shirt tug on Katongo on 48 minutes as neither side made any changes at the interval.
Ajiboye saw a goal-bound shot blocked before Katongo lashed an effort wide from the edge of the box. Jones then poked a Burrows centre wide of the target at the near post after getting across the front man.
On 53 minutes, Posh got themselves on level terms as good wing play from Ajiboye down the right saw him trick his way past the full-back and his low centre was fired home at the back post by the onrushing Kwame POKU.
Wigan immediately made a double change with Tom Pearce and Chris Sze introduced into the fray. Godo was booked for a cynical trip on Poku on 66 minutes moments after Ajiboye curled a left-foot shot just over the top after skipping past his defender on the inside.
Katongo was booked for a foul while Sessegnon went into the book or moaning about the foul. Hughes cracked the outside of the post with a rasping drive on 72 minutes as the hosts came close to re-taking the lead.
Jonson Clarke-Harris and Romoney Crichlow were introduced on 77 minutes with Kioso and Jones the men to make way. On 81 minutes, the hosts got their noses in front as a corner wasn’t properly cleared and substitute MCMANAMAN lashed home from the edge of the box with his swerving effort leaving Bilokapic no chance.
Mason-Clark should have levelled within a minute as a Clarke-Harris knock-down picked him out but on the stretch, he couldn’t divert the ball past the keeper. Substitute Joel Randall saw a shot cleared off the line by Shaw after a good pull-back from Mason-Clark.
Clarke-Harris then had a presentable chance with his head at the back post, but he planted his effort wide of the target from close-range.
Wigan: Tickle, Morrison, Sessegnon, Hughes, Humprhys (sub Sze 56min), Jones (sub Pearce 56min), Shaw, Godo (sub McManaman 73min), Lang (sub Stones 73min), Smith, Rekik. Unused subs: Amos, Watts, Magennis.
Posh: Bilokapic, Katongo (sub Collins 72min), Burrows (sub Randall 84min), Edwards, Knight, Mason-Clark, Poku, Ajiboye, Jones (sub Clarke-Harris 77min), Kyprianou, Kioso (sub Crichlow 77min). Unused subs: Talley, Sturge, De Havilland.
Half-time: Wigan Athletic 1-0 Peterborough United
Full-time: Wigan Athletic 2-1 Peterborough United
Attendance: 8,134 (240 Posh fans)
Referee: Ollie Yates