Latics sunk by Wigan

EFFORT AT GOAL . . . Ollie Banks

ATHLETIC 0, WIGAN 2

EARLY goals from Ivan Toney and Michael Jacobs condemned Athletic to a fourth straight defeat.

John Sheridan's struggled to get going early on and Wigan capitalised on their dominance with two quick goals.

The first came when a short corner was worked by Lee Evans and his fierce whipped-in cross hit the body of the unmarked Toney, diverting the ball beyond Ben Wilson despite his best efforts to claw out at the near post in the eighth minute.

Seven minutes later, the visitors doubled their lead. A through-ball was teased over Athletic's over-worked defence and though Peter Clarke got a head to it, Jacobs stole in to poke at goal. Ben Wilson blocked but could not collect and as the ball bounced around in the box, Jacobs reacted quickest to score from an acute angle on the right, firing between the legs of Anthony Gerrard who was stood on the goal line.

Athletic started the second half better and forced a low save when Ollie Banks's flick at goal from Aaron Amadi-Holloway's nod-back was smothered.

Ivan Toney volleyed wide first-time at the other end, but Wigan were content to keep Athletic at arm's length.

John Sheridan threw on Courtney Duffus and Darius Osei in a bid to create a tense finish and Ryan McLaughlin had a late effort parried out, but the game petered out with the hosts outclassed on the day.