Morgan Fox has offered a candid assessment of Wigan Athletic's performance after the Latics were beaten 4-0 at home by Stockport County, conceding that his side never got to grips with the contest from the opening whistle.

A damaging afternoon at the DW Stadium

Stockport arrived in confident mood and left with all three points in emphatic fashion, running out 4-0 winners in a result that will sting Wigan supporters deeply. For a side looking to stabilise in League One, a heavy home defeat of this nature raises uncomfortable questions about where the Latics currently stand in the division's pecking order.

Defender Fox, speaking to BBC Radio Manchester shortly after the final whistle, did not attempt to dress up what had unfolded. "We got it wrong from the start," he said plainly, acknowledging that Wigan never managed to impose themselves and were second-best across the pitch for the bulk of the afternoon.

A pattern that cannot be ignored

This result lands with particular weight because it is not an isolated low point. Wigan have now suffered several heavy defeats in a short stretch of fixtures, and manager Steven Caldwell has publicly spoken of the need to keep working and prepare to win more. Back-to-back heavy losses suggest the problems run deeper than a single bad day.

A margin of four goals in a home fixture tells its own story. When a side concedes at that rate on its own patch, the issues tend to spread across the whole team shape rather than resting with one department. Whether that is down to defensive organisation, the pressing structure being bypassed too easily from wide areas, or a lack of physicality in midfield, Caldwell and his coaching staff will need to find answers quickly.

Wigan had shown flickers of promise earlier in the campaign. A 3-1 victory over MK Dons was described by club captain Max Power as "much needed" at the time, suggesting there is a group capable of competing on their day. The challenge now is making that version of Wigan the rule rather than the exception.

Stockport's statement

For Stockport, this was a statement result. County have been one of League One's more watchable sides and a 4-0 away win at any ground in the division demands respect. The result moves them into a strong position in the table and underlines their ambitions for the season.

Stockport's squad depth has been a talking point throughout the window, with a series of loan additions made to bolster their options. A performance and scoreline of this nature suggests those arrivals are bedding in effectively, and the coaching staff will be pleased to see the squad firing on such a significant occasion.

What Wigan must do next

Fox's honesty is, at the very least, a starting point. Acknowledging a collective failure openly is more productive than deflection, and supporters will appreciate the directness. The more pressing question is whether that honesty can be converted into an improved performance at the next opportunity.

Wigan's remaining fixtures in this stretch of the calendar offer the chance to arrest the slide, but the margin of this defeat means confidence within the group will need careful management. Caldwell will be aware that the table has little sympathy for a side that loses by four at home, and the work between now and the next kick-off will be critical.

For the Latics, the message from the dressing room is clear enough. Getting it wrong from the start, as Fox put it, is a habit this side cannot afford to keep.

Frequently asked

What was the score in Wigan vs Stockport?
Stockport County won 4-0 away at Wigan Athletic in a League One fixture played on 6 September 2026.
What did Morgan Fox say after Wigan's 4-0 loss to Stockport?
Wigan defender Morgan Fox admitted the Latics 'got it wrong from the start', saying his side were never in the contest from the opening whistle.
How are Wigan Athletic doing in League One this season?
Wigan have struggled for consistency, suffering several heavy defeats. A 3-1 win over MK Dons offered brief encouragement, but the 4-0 home loss to Stockport highlights ongoing difficulties.