Northampton began the 2025/26 season with a 3-1 defeat away at Wigan Athletic.

Fraser Murray and Jensen Weir gave the home side a 2-0 lead at half-time, which was extended when Murray grabbed a third in the opening minute of the second half.

Michael Forbes grabbed a late goal back for Northampton, but the damage had already been done for Kevin Nolan’s side as they slid to an opening day reverse in Lancashire.

After a summer of player churn in the Cobblers’ ranks, Nolan named 8 of the Cobblers’ new signings in their first league starting line-up of the campaign, including Ethan Wheatley the day after he was confirmed as joining Northampton on loan from Manchester United.

Northampton will seek to puts on the board next weekend as they welcome newly promoted Bradford City to Sixfields.

The pink-clad visitors almost snatched the lead early on when a Jack Burroughs cross struck the crossbar with goalkeeper Sam Tickle a bystander.

As the half wore on, Wigan began to create more tangible opportunities, with Murray heading over and Weir having a shot saved by Lee Burge.

Just over half-an-hour into the game, Wigan broke the deadlock. Joseph Hungbo got space to deliver a cross and Murray’s header found the back of the net.

Northampton nearly equalised when Cameron McGeehan hit the side-netting from Dean Campbell’s cross, while Murray’s free-kick was repelled at the other end by a fine stop from Burge.

Wigan would make it 2-0 from the corner after Murray’s denied free-kick, however, as Weir turned home from Hungbo’s corner to give the Latics a further goal on the tally.

The hosts nearly made it 3-0 in the final moments of the first half as Weir got space for a shot that was denied by Burge.

But less than 20 seconds after half-time, Wigan got their third as Murray’s shot took a deflection off Forbes to send it beyond Burge and into the back of the net.

Although Sam Hoskins and Elliot List would miss chances, Northampton took a while to get their bearings as the second half continued.

The Cobblers would make it 3-1 with 20 minutes to go as debutant defender Forbes headed in from Campbell’s corner.

List then nearly made things even more interesting when he was only denied by a fine stop from Wigan keeper Tickle.

Dara Costelloe, who played for Northampton on loan last season, missed a great chance to grab the home side a fourth, while his replacement Paul Mullin was only denied by a fine stop from Burge.

Tyrese Fornah then came close with a shot well stopped by Tickle, but there would be no further goals on the scoreboard as Wigan saw the game out to start their season with the three points.