Wigan Athletic's Leam Richardson slams 'ridiculous' penalty call after Sheffield Wednesday loss

Wigan Athletic boss Leam Richardson blasted the match officials after watching his side fall to a 1-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.

The Owls secured a fourth successive victory after a 53rd minute penalty from Barry Bannan.

Referee Tim Robinson pointed to the spot after Massimo Luongo went down under a challenge from Latics defender Jack Whatmough.

Richardson said: "I just think the players should decide the result of games.

"The players haven't decided that result, and that is disappointing.

"If you're not 100 per cent sure, you can't give a penalty like that.

"From every possible angle it's definitely not a penalty, which is ridiculous.

"During the game, I didn't think it was.

"But having seen it after the game, it's definitely not a penalty.

"If the game is going to peter out as a 0-0, let it peter out.

"People don't have to get involved and show their worth on the pitch.

"Their worth on the pitch is making sure games get officiated in the correct way."

Despite suffering their fifth league defeat of the campaign, Wigan remain second in the table on goal difference.

On their 1-0 reversal at Hillsborough, Richardson said: "It was one of those games that didn't have much quality in it.

"I thought we probably shaded the first half, we created the better chances.

"In the second half they probably imposed themselves more, and they had something to work with."