Clinical leaders’
THREE goals in eight second-half minutes condemned Rochdale to defeat at the hands of league leaders Wigan Athletic.
Clinical finishes in quick succession from James Vaughan, Michael Jacobs and in-form Will Grigg ensured Dale remain in the relegation zone with six games left.
The hosts got a goal back through Steven Davies’ late penalty, but the destination of the points never looked in doubt after Dan Burn handed Wigan a first-half lead.
To complete their League One escape act, Keith Hill’s side need to overhaul a run of home form that has seen them win just one of their last ten league games at Spotland.
The early stages were played at a healthy tempo with chances at a premium, the first shot in anger a Callum Camps volley that sailed wide after a corner had been half-cleared.
Oliver Rathbone was detailed to man-mark Nick Powell, the former Manchester United man a menace in the attacking midfield role.
Powell won a free-kick down the left and Burn won the first contact, the header lacking the power to test Josh Lillis who saved comfortably.
Burn, a colossal central defender, handed his side the advantage on 17 minutes when he stooped to head home after Chey Dunkley nodded on Max Power’s corner.
Dale issued an immediate response to going behind, Calvin Andrew’s header from a left-wing cross looping wide.
Hill’s decision to drag Stephen Humphrys off in the 20th minute, a tactical call, seemed to be in response to the Fulham loanee’s early inability hold the ball up and provide a forward platform.
The woodwork was struck twice at either end in the space of a minute, Powell’s drive striking the inside of the post and flying to safety before Joe Rafferty’s flicked header hit the top of the bar.
Two minutes later, Rochdale looked to pose a counter-attacking threat as Bradden Inman slid Camps through but the midfielder couldn’t fully adjust and struck wide of the right post.
Nathan Byrne’s chested backpass sold Christian Walton well short, Matt Done unable to get there ahead of the keeper and take advantage of the hosts’ best chance on the half-hour.
The Spotland crowd took no time in turning on Powell, who spent protracted periods on the pitch gaining treatment for fouls that could only be described as fair attempts to win the ball.
He would be withdrawn in first-half injury time, but not before Wigan established dominance going into the break.
Just before the interval Lillis had to pedal back and leapt to tip Byrne’s dipping strike from 30 yards over the bar and to safety.
Powell’s thigh injury and subsequent withdrawal gave Paul Cook the chance to hand James Vaughan a substitute appearance and a 300th career start.
The start to the second half was low-key but with two strikers now in place, the Latics were equipped to embark on their matchwinning goal glut.
Grigg turned and played Vaughan into the box down the right-hand side, the striker stroking past Lillis to make it two in the 55th minute.
Jacobs struck a third three minutes later, twisting and turning past Joe Rafferty on the top of the box and curling into the corner.
Gavin Massey played a key role in the move that set up the second and he was at the heart of the fourth, Lillis only able to parry his long-range shot with Grigg alert to convert the rebound.
Youngsters Ryan Delaney and Alex Dobre were thrown on as substitutes midway through the eight-minute romp.
In terms of a response, Inman was the brightest in seeking a consolation when he flashed a cross across the face of goal where Steven Davies was unable to slide and add a finishing touch.
Chey Dunkley tripped Calvin Andrew in the box and a penalty was rightly awarded, Davies stepping up and side-footing into the roof of the net from the spot.
“Wigan are a class outfit and they are top of the league for a reason,” said boss Hill.
“They have the best players, the best manager and they are spending the most money. They are better than us, no question, but we suppressed it, we them on and had chances in the first half. But again, a lack of discipline from a set-play from my players cost us going in at half time.
“I am disappointed with the nature of their first goal in the second half. We then tried to change it to get goals and it sort of handed the game to the opponents.”