Cambridge United 3:2 Wigan: League One Match Result

Match report

Cambridge United took on Wigan Athletic in the first round of League One, and the hosts secured a 3:2 victory on 15 August 2026. The result puts Cambridge up to sixth place with eight points from five games, while Wigan remain in 24th place on three points after five matches and four defeats.

K. Watts opened the scoring just three minutes in, and L. Appere doubled the lead before the half-hour mark. Wigan pulled one back through I. Heath in the second half, but Cambridge responded with goals from S. Perkins and A. Higgins to take control of the match. There were several changes around the hour mark, with Wigan bringing on both C. Barrett and C. Sze.

It was a curious contest by the numbers. Wigan held 66 per cent possession and completed 526 passes compared to Cambridge's 263, but the visitors managed only four shots on target from 13 attempts. Cambridge, by contrast, put six shots on target from 13 attempts and created three big chances. The hosts won the same number of aerial duels — 44 each — but made 186 passes into the opposition half compared to Wigan's 312.

Cambridge had been unbeaten in their last three league games before Saturday, winning two and drawing one. Wigan's recent run told a different story: one draw and four losses in their five matches. The victory extends Cambridge's unbeaten run to four games and leaves Wigan four points from safety with one game played less than most of the division.

Prepared from match data

Key numbers

Possession, % 34 – 66

Shots on target 6 – 4

Shots off target 7 – 9

Big chances 3 – 5

⚽ 3' K. Watts — Goal ⚽ 34' L. Appere — Goal ⇄ 46' C. Llyton — Substitution ⚽ 52' I. Heath — Goal ⇄ 60' C. Barrett — Substitution ⇄ 60' C. Sze — Substitution ⚽ 69' S. Perkins — Goal ⚽ 73' A. Higgins — Goal ⇄ 74' I. Heath — Substitution ⇄ 74' B. Knight — Substitution ⇄ 80' L. Appere — Substitution ⇄ 87' D. Costelloe — Substitution 🟨 90+5' Z. Bradshaw — Yellow card ⇄ 90+6' Z. Bradshaw — Substitution

Match events

3' 1:0 Cambridge United Goal K. Watts assist: M. Jobe
34' 2:0 Cambridge United Goal L. Appere
46' 2:0 Wigan Substitution C. Llyton off: A. Harris
52' 3:0 Cambridge United Goal I. Heath
60' 3:0 Wigan Substitution C. Barrett off: K. Miller
60' 3:0 Wigan Substitution C. Sze off: A. Higgins
69' 3:1 Wigan Goal S. Perkins
73' 3:2 Wigan Goal A. Higgins assist: D. Costelloe
74' 3:2 Cambridge United Substitution I. Heath off: P. Mpanzu
74' 3:2 Cambridge United Substitution B. Knight off: S. Kaikai
80' 3:2 Cambridge United Substitution L. Appere off: S. Lavery
87' 3:2 Wigan Substitution D. Costelloe off: C. McManaman
90+5' 3:2 Cambridge United Yellow card Z. Bradshaw
90+6' 3:2 Cambridge United Substitution Z. Bradshaw off: P. Bauer

Statistics

34 Possession, % 66

6 Shots on target 4

7 Shots off target 9

3 Big chances 5

67 Attacks 105

8 Corners 5

9 Fouls 8

8 Free kicks 9

2 Offsides 1

1 Yellow cards 0

0 Red cards 0

13 Goal kicks 4

26 Throw-ins 25

All statistics

26/4459% Aerial duels 18/4441%

39 Backward passes 77

4 Blocked shots 5

37 Clearances 38

6/2129% Crosses 6/2722%

2/729% Dribbles 4/1136%

92 Failed passes 87

2 Goalkeeper saves 2

11 Interceptions 4

8 Key passes 13

25/8330% Long passes 18/4937%

54 Passes into the final third 111

186 Passes in the opposition half 312

98 Passes in own half 241

0.35 Shot accuracy 0.22

5 Shots from outside the box 7

12 Shots inside the box 11

8/1362% Tackles 5/1050%

263 Total passes 526

Recent form