Report: Wigan Athletic U23s 1-4 Bristol City U23s

Goals from Jonny Smith, Hakeeb Adelakun, Freddie Hinds and Louis Britton secured the points for the Robins, for whom Niki Mäenpää played 90 minutes on his return from a calf injury.

Smith scored after just two minutes when he rifled a shot into the roof of the net after the Robins won the ball back with a high press.

Adelakun’s goal came after he picked the ball up in the space between the Latics’ defence and midfield, took a touch and then shot into the top corner for a 2-0 half-time lead.

City started the second half strongly with Hinds – scorer in the previous week’s 3-1 reverse to Nottingham Forest – curling a left-foot strike into the top corner after some good approach play from Tyreeq Bakinson and Adelakun.

The win against a Wigan side, who had opened their account with a 3-0 win at Colchester United the previous week, was sealed with Louis Britton headed home after a good delivery from Smith.

The hosts scored a consolation goal when James Taylor brought down their attacker in the box to concede a penalty and, though Mäenpää went the right way, Joe Piggott’s spot-kick was just out of his reach.

City are next in action against Barnsley at Ashton Gate Stadium on Tuesday, August 27^th (KO 2pm).

City U23s: Niki Mäenpää, James Taylor, Bradley Webb, Tyreeq Bakinson, Tom Harrison, Aden Baldwin (capt, Barney Soady 60), Jonny Smith, Ryley Towler (Marcus Day 60), Ricardo Rees, Freddie Hinds (Louis Briton), Hakeeb Adelakun. Subs (not used): Lochlan Robertson, Tommy Conway.