Latics earn crucial win

GOAL . . . Ryan McLaughlin scored for Athletic

ATHLETIC 3, COVENTRY 2

PETER Clarke and Ryan McLaughlin grabbed second-half goals as Athletic claimed three points against the division's bottom club.

Clarke capitalised on a fumble from Coventry goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook in the 66th minute, scrambling the ball home after he lost control of a cross.

Four minutes later, McLaughlin steamed through a broken Sky Blues back line to calmly slot the ball home.

Coventry could easily have been two goals up themselves. Levelling an eighth-minute own goal from Kevin Foley, who accidentally turned Ryan Flynn's cross into his own net, Marcus Tudgay hammered in an equaliser from 18 yards straight through Connor Ripley.

Callum Reilly hit the crossbar from 18 yards out and George Thomas struck a post in the second half with a shot that Ripley did well to save, before Clarke and McLaughlin gave John Sheridan's side a cushion.

Kwame Thomas headed in a Jodi Jones header to reduce the arrears in the 76th minute and with Aiden O'Neill going close on the break in added time, the victory lifted Athletic out of the relegation zone for the first time since September.