Both sides created chances during an open afternoon, but the Royals were unable to find a way past Joe Whitworth and were ultimately punished for failing to take their opportunities.

The hosts threatened inside four minutes after a major scare for Joel Pereira. The Reading goalkeeper raced from his area to clear the ball with a header but miscued his attempt. The loose ball fell kindly for Connor Barrett and the danger eventually broke for Bradley Burrowes, but the midfielder dragged his effort wide to spare Pereira's blushes.

Wigan continued to look dangerous in the opening stages. Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen saw an effort blocked before the hosts won a corner. From the resulting set-piece, Chelsea loanee Reggie Walsh picked out Jensen Weir on the edge of the area, but his effort through a crowded penalty box was comfortably gathered by Pereira.

Reading's first promising attack came after 15 minutes when Paddy Lane's cross found Josh Stokes in space, but the midfielder was unable to take advantage and Wigan cleared the danger.

Burrowes remained a persistent threat and forced another save from Pereira on 20 minutes. The young midfielder skipped beyond Reading's defence and an out-of-position Paudie O'Connor before shooting from distance, with Pereira equal to the effort.

Reading immediately threatened at the other end. Kyreece Lisbie was released on the counter-attack and looked set to score his fourth goal of the campaign, only for Whitworth to produce a fine save. Lisbie was denied again two minutes later when Udoka Godwin-Malife found him inside the area, the Wigan goalkeeper once more preserving the deadlock.

The game continued at a lively tempo. Walsh fired over the bar from inside the area after being found by Burrowes, while Burrowes himself had two further efforts from distance sail over the crossbar.

Reading finished the half strongly and created the better openings before the interval. Lewis Wing fired narrowly over after Andy Rinomhota's corner routine found him on the edge of the area, before Haydon Roberts headed just over from a Stokes cross.

Paddy Lane then saw an acrobatic effort blocked before Jamie Reid forced a close-range save from Whitworth. Reading won a late corner after James Carragher prevented a dangerous ball from travelling across the six-yard box, but the half ended with the sides still level.

Half Time - Wigan 0-0 Reading

The Royals carried that momentum into the second half. Jeriel Dorsett headed wide from a Wing delivery following a free-kick before O'Connor also failed to hit the target from a Wing corner.

Wing nearly broke the deadlock himself on the hour mark with an acrobatic effort from the edge of the penalty area, but Whitworth was again in the right place to make the save.

Wigan responded immediately through Burrowes. Set up by Hogan, he drove into the left side of the box and forced Pereira into a smart save. The rebound dropped kindly for Barrett, but he headed over the crossbar.

Reading continued to create openings. Lisbie flashed an effort wide after being found by Stokes before Reid's header from another Wing delivery was directed straight at Whitworth.

Stokes then saw a shot blocked from inside the area as Reading threatened, but the breakthrough arrived for the hosts in the 70th minute.

A cross into the penalty area was only parried by Pereira and Hogan reacted quickest, turning the loose ball home from close range to give Wigan a 1-0 lead.

Leam Richardson responded with a double substitution, introducing Charlie Savage and Jacob Brown midway through the half, while Wigan looked to protect their advantage with changes of their own.

Reading continued to search for an equaliser. Rinomhota saw an effort blocked after Lisbie picked him out, while Wing later blazed over after being found by Roberts.

The Royals were nearly punished again when Wing produced a vital block as Wigan pushed for a second goal, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.

Their best chance to salvage a point arrived seven minutes from time. Substitute Randell Williams drilled a low cross into the penalty area which evaded Lane and rolled through perfectly for Stokes. The midfielder struck first time towards the bottom-right corner, but Whitworth got down brilliantly to make the save.

Four minutes of stoppage time were added, but Reading were unable to carve out another clear opening. Wigan almost scored again on the counter-attack through Charlie Gray, who fired well over from distance after a late Royals attack broke down.

The final whistle confirmed a frustrating afternoon for Reading. Despite creating a number of opportunities and forcing Whitworth into several important saves, the Royals were unable to find a breakthrough and were ultimately undone by Hogan's decisive second-half finish.

Full Time - Wigan 1-0 Reading