Wigan Athletic produced an excellent performance on their first ever European night at home, beating Maribor 3-1.
After a goalless draw in their opening Europa League game, Wigan were keen to show what they could do in front of their home fans.
They dominated the first half and could have scored a few more in the opening 45 minutes.
Maribor improved after the break though in a very entertaining tie.
See how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's text coverage below.
Thanks for joining me for this evening's tie between Wigan and Maribor, on what is a historic occasion for the Latics.
Today's game will be the first ever European game at the DW Stadium and Owen Coyle will be hoping to mark the day with a win.
That could prove difficult as, despite an impressive performance in their first game, Wigan are without several key players today. So, without further ado, let's get the teams in...
TEAM NEWS
WIGAN XI: Carson; Boyce, Perch, Barnett, Shotton; McManaman, Watson, McArthur, Beausejour; Gomez; Powell
MARIBOR XI: Handanovic; Milec, Rajcevic, Arghus, Mejac; Filipovic, Mertelj, Bohar, Cvijanovic; Tavares, Mendy
Wigan line up with a reshuffled defence then. There is also no Maloney, and no Grant Holt, which means that on-loan Manchester United forward Nick Powell starts up front with Jordi Gomez just behind.
The visitors have a potent strikeforce in Mendy and Tavares while youngster Damjan Bohar can get goals from midfield.
It is a tough one to call tonight. Wigan have been in mixed form since their last game in Europe, beating Ipswich Town but losing to Watford as well as Manchester City in the League Cup. They're also missing a few players but I actually think that could work in their favour.
The likes of McManaman and Powell will be fearless tonight and having dreamed about this sort of game for years, they will be keen to make an impression.
That said, European games often require a degree of experience and Maribor have been in the Europa League before. They know what it takes to go away and put in a solid performance, and they won't want to lose to a team from England's second tier.
It all depends how Wigan decide to play. I think that if they look to attack and have a nothing-to-lose attitude, then they will be rewarded because they have undoubted quality in the attacking areas.
If they try and be too clever, and concentrate on keeping it tight, then they may come unstuck. Either way, I can see this game being quite a tight one.
One thing that I have just noticed after looking through Maribor's previous results in the Europa League - They have lost their last four games in the competition excluding qualifying, conceding 13 goals!
That statistic suggests that Wigan do have a good chance tonight, despite their defensive absentees.
PREDICTION: With just a few minutes to go until kick off, I will put my neck on the line and give a prediction. I do think Wigan will look to attack their opponents and I can see them scoring a couple of goals. Wigan 2-1 Maribor.
The players are out on the pitch ahead of the pre-match routine, and then it's kick off!
Wigan get the game underway.
Perch plays the ball over the top for Beausejour to chase. He catches the ball and cuts inside before being brought down on the edge of the box...
Gomez whips the ball across the face of goal but Maribor get it away. Wigan still on the attack with Watson, they're forced back before winning another free kick close to the halfway line.
Wigan are knocking the ball around confidently here. McArthur and Watson are controlling the game with their full-backs available at any time. Maribor happy to let them have it for the moment.
Maribor eventually get the ball and launch an attack, however Mendy loses out to Watson before fouling the Wigan man.
SAVE A glorious chance for Wigan to take the lead as Powell reacts to a poor back pass and races away from the defence. He scoops the ball towards the corner but Handanovic throws his arm out and tips it wide. Great save.
There is a clash of heads in the middle of the pitch as McArthur and Mertelj go for the same bouncing ball. The referee stops play.
McManaman turns his man after collecting a pass from Boyce and plays the ball inside. Watson then spreads it wide again where McManaman loses out. Wigan regain the ball and launch another attack though.
Bit of a dip in the game as Maribor come into in a bit more. Wigan still in control but they're being pressed at the back a little more now.
Perch is forced to go long to McArthur, who finds himself in the channels and does well, winning a corner. Watson delivers to the edge of the box where McArthur, in lots of space, curls his effort wide.
A lovely move from Maribor creates their first half-chance. Bohar does well in the middle and finds Milec who cuts inside and pulls the ball back to Cvijanovic, but his shot deflects over and Wigan deal with the corner.
Wigan's turn to show their passing game as McManaman and Watson combine to set up Boyce on the edge of the box. He flicks it inside to Gomez and is taken out, earning Wigan a free kick in a good position, perfect for Gomez's left foot.
It is Gomez who hits it, but the wall does it's job and the ball goes out for a throw.
GOAL! Wigan Athletic 1-0 Maribor (Powell)
Wigan work their throw-in to Beausejour who finds space and crosses. Handanovic fails to deal with the cross and punches it up into the air, allowing Powell to head into an empty net. Poor goalkeeping.
Watson chips the ball over the top on the right for Beausejour, who flicks it first time to Gomez. He skips past a challenge and shoots but it is deflected and Maribor clear. Wigan turning on the style a bit now.
Mendy finds some space on the left and fires a shot towards goal but it is easy for Carson to deal with and Wigan break.
Beausejour comes off the left and picks up a loose ball, skipping past three challenges on the way. He knocks the ball wide to Powell, who cuts in before being fouled just outside the box.
Watson takes the free kick this time but it is well over the crossbar. Wigan are in control here but a second goal could really be the catalyst for a Maribor collapse.
Nice counter attack from Maribor. Tavares spreads the ball wide for Milec, who finds Mendy in the box. The striker produces a nice turn and shot but luckily for Wigan, it is straight at Carson.
GOAL! Wigan Athletic 2-0 Maribor (Watson)
McArthur plays the ball to Beausejour on the left, allowing the winger to put in an excellent cross. Watson beats the goalkeeper to the ball and sends Wigan further in front.
CHANCE! Another defensive mix-up allows Powell to run through on his own once again. He tries a a chip over the goalkeeper from the edge of the box but the ball goes over the bar. It should be 3-0.
CHANCE! Another great chance for Wigan as Gomez finds McManaman on the right. The winger bursts to the byline and fires the ball across goal. The goalkeeper misses it up Beausejour can't adjust his feet in time at the back post.
McManaman again finds space and this time he decides to do it alone, cutting inside and shooting, but his left-footed effort is tame and easily gathered by Handanovic.
Wigan playing the ball around at the back before springing on the right, however McManaman is offside. Maribor hit back and Mendy lays the ball to Cvijanovic, but his shot goes way over the bar.
CHANCE! McManaman is released on the right by a one-two with Gomez, but shoots inches wide from just inside the box.
HALF TIME: Wigan Athletic 2-0 Maribor
Well, it has been far too easy for Wigan this evening. They're cruising in their first ever European game at home and to be honest, the score will be whatever they want it to be in the second half.
Watson and McArthur have dictated the game but it is Beausejour who has been the star of the show. Wigan look like scoring every time he gets the ball. On top of that, Powell could have had a hat-trick and McMananam on the right, is becoming more and more of a threat.
Maribor's front two, Tavares and Mendy, have looked quite good when they've been able to get on the ball but unfortunately for them, they haven't got enough support.
I expect Owen Coyle to ask for more of the same from his players, before resting the likes of Watson and Beausejour after 20 minutes or so.
You would usually expect a reaction from Maribor but they just haven't been able to live with Wigan on the break. Their coach ash sent them out early so maybe they've had a bit of a telling off at half time.
Maribor begin the second 45 minutes.
Already better from the away side as Mendy and Tavares combine on the right, before moving the ball on to Milec. His cross is way over hit but it's an improvement from Maribor.
Bit of a scrappy start to the second half. Maribor are closing down a lot quicker and Wigan are perhaps taking it a bit easy. Not much to report.
McManaman holds off Cvijanovic and gets to the byline but the referee penalises him for a foul. The player, and his manager, are furious.
Watson releases McManaman on the right again. This time he stands his defender up and beats him, firing across the goal towards Powell but Handanovic just about deals with it.
POST! An excellent Wigan break with Beausejour at the heart of it again, collecting McArthur's pass and crossing for Powell, but he can only hit the post on the stretch!
CHANCE! How have Wigan not scored in the last few minutes?! McManaman turns his man inside out on the right once again and cuts the ball back to Beausejour. His effort is blocked though and Maribor clear
GOAL! Wigain Athletic 2-1 Maribor (Tavares)
Well, against the run of play Maribor get themselves back into this game. Mendy does excellently, collecting the ball and turning Shotton before bursting past the defending and into the box where he cut the ball back for Tavares. The striker couldn't miss with the goalkeeper out of the goal and fired his side back into the game.
Will Wigan pay for those missed chances? It won't be easy for them to lift themselves with the visitors rejuvenated, but they need to kill this game off, they were cruising.
Wigan give the ball away twice in quick succession trying to force the ball forward. They need to start moving it through midfield again and finding space on the wings.
SUBSTITUTION: A change for Wigan as James McClean replaces McManaman.
No chances created in the last few minutes but it's Maribor playing the better football. Wigan still can't quite find their rhythm again.
Wigan work a short corner back to McClean on the edge of the box but his shot is charged down. They keep the ball before winning a free kick wide on the left.
YELLOW CARD! Mendy is shown the game's first yellow card as he reacts angrily to the award of the free kick.
SAVE! Tavares combines well with Bohar before turning inside and smashing it towards goal but Carson is equal to it and even manages to hold on to the ball.
CHANCE! Another chance for the hosts as Gomez releases Watson on the left. The midfielder plays the ball across goal but Powell can't reach the ball and it goes just wide.
SUBSTITUTION: Maribor make their first change as Dejan Mezga comes on for Mertelj. Wigan also make a substitution with Chris McCann replacing Watson.
Wigan break well on the left through Beausejour and Powell but the latter can't get his shot away in time and the defender flicks it away for a corner, which Maribor deal with.
Wigan seem to have regained a measure of control although the visitors still look dangerous on the break. A little more care in the final third and Wigan could put this game to bed.
McClean plays the ball into the corner for Powell to chase, which he does before losing out and then giving a foul away.
SUBSTITUTION: A couple of changes for Maribor as Dohar and Mejac come off for Mitja Viller and Nusmir Fajoc.
Wigan seem comfortable with 2-1 now. They've worked hard and their attackers have not got much left in the tank. They just need to hold firm at the back.
Maribor still pushing for an equaliser but so far are failing to find any space in the Wigan half.
SAVE! They do find some space, playing a lovely triangle of one-touch football to release Tavares through the middle, however his shot from the edge of the box is tipped wide by Carson. Wigan then deal with the resulting corner.
GOAL! Wigan Athletic 3-1 Maribor (Powell)
Seconds after Carson's save, Powell makes sure of the win, collecting the ball on the counter attack and skipping past a couple of challenges before firing in from the edge of the box.
SUBSTITUTION: Powell receives a standing ovation as he goes off for Nouha Dicko.
CHANCE! Another Wigan break as Dicko puts Barnett through on the left. He beats the goalkeeper but not the covering defender and the referee blows the whistle.
FULL TIME: Wigan Athletic 3-1 Maribor
A very good performance in the end from Wigan on their first European night at home. They dominated the first half and although Maribor's goal made things a bit nervy, the hosts were always quite comfortable and added to the scoreline in the last minute.
Credit to the away side, they showed that they do have some fight in the second half, and in Tavares and Mendy, they've got a very good strike force.
It was other areas of the pitch which let them down this evening though, particularly defence, and Wigan's youthful attack punished them time and again.
Thanks for joining me, and have a good night.
Written by
Daniel Cross
Daniel Cross
