wigan athletic vs luton town — Joe Taylor seals 1-0 win in Caldwell return

Joe Taylor's late headed finish clinched a 1-0 victory for Wigan in the first match back under Gary Caldwell, a result that pulled the home side out of the League One relegation places and dented Luton's push for the play-offs. The match finished on Feb. 18, 2026; last update 4: 42 PM ET.

Taylor strike proves decisive in tight contest

The decisive moment arrived deep into the second half when substitute Dara Costelloe fed Taylor, who kept his composure to beat the goalkeeper with a clinical finish. That scoreline ultimately proved enough for a priceless three points after an encounter that swung in Wigan's favour after the interval.

The first half had been largely uneventful. Luton had the clearest sight of goal when Isaiah Jones was fouled just outside the penalty area; Kasey Palmer's curling free-kick dipped over the wall but was comfortably saved by Wigan's Sam Tickle. From that period, Wigan grew into the match and began to force the issue after the break.

Wigan's second-half dominance saw Morgan Fox and Taylor both test Luton keeper Josh Keeley with strong efforts that were kept out. The home bench added to the occasion when Caldwell's assistant received a yellow card with about 20 minutes to go, underscoring the intensity of the encounter on the manager's return.

Late drama and defensive resilience

After Taylor's goal, Luton pushed for an equaliser. Jordan Clark came closest with a left-footed strike that flew inches past the far post with four minutes remaining. Wigan came agonisingly close to doubling their lead moments later when Joseph Hungbo delivered a superb cross that Costelloe could only stab over from four yards.

The closing stages were frantic. Wigan needed two goal-line interventions in the seventh minute of added time — from Morgan Fox and Will Aimson — to deny a late leveller and preserve a vital clean sheet. That defensive work proved as important as the match-winning finish, with the hosts holding firm against a late surge.

What this means for both sides

The win was Wigan's first in seven league outings and moves them clear of the relegation zone, providing immediate breathing space and momentum under the returning manager. The victory will be a welcome boost for belief around the squad after a difficult run of results.

For Luton, the defeat is a blow to their play-off ambitions. They arrived having taken the reverse fixture earlier in the season and will be frustrated by missed opportunities, particularly the late chance from Clark that might have salvaged a point. The visitors will need to regroup quickly and find consistency to maintain their upward push in the table.

Individual moments stood out: Tickle's early save from Palmer's free-kick, Keeley's second-half stops to keep his side in the contest, and Costelloe's assist for the winning goal. But it was Taylor's finishing touch and the defensive interventions at the death that ultimately decided the afternoon.

Match end: Wigan Athletic 1, Luton Town 0. The result reshuffles immediate league pressure and sets up a crucial period of fixtures for both teams as they chase survival and play-off aspirations respectively.