Latics a cut above rest in division

DISAPPOINTED as he always is in defeat, Keith Hill acknowledged that Wigan’s strength in depth was ultimately too much for his men.

Latics shrugged off the blow of losing key midfielder Nick Powell to a first half injury with relative ease, bringing on former Bury frontman James Vaughan.

It spoke volumes that, at 4-0 up, Paul Cook was able to bring on Gary Roberts, admittedly now in the veteran category, but still a top player at League One level.

“We are not the first team to lose to Wigan and we won’t be the last,” said Hill.

“They beat MK Dons 5-1 at the weekend and they are capable of doing that, they can lull you in and they have players who can change games.

“Nick Powell had to come off and they brought James Vaughan on. I think they just have a marvellous squad and unfortunately they can get the better of you, whether it’s the goalkeeper, the central defenders – I think they have the best defensive record in the whole of the football pyramid. So it was a difficult one.

“I think we got a little bit affected by the scoreline where I still want discipline in performance because you can learn in situations like that. It might be a good thing that we’ve been beaten.”

Hill started with the same team he’d kicked off with for the Portsmouth game on Saturday, when a fine performance was tempered by Pompey’s refusal to be shaken off by Dale.

It meant Stephen Humphrys starting up front – but he only lasted 18 minutes before being withdrawn with Steven Davies replacing him.

“Stephen Humphrys wasn’t getting hold of the ball,” explained Hill. “I had deliberated with it and I don’t think he is capable at this time of playing two games in a week. We tried to go with the same team and the same energy we had against Portsmouth – he’s not produced it twice within a week and I felt it was the right decision to make within twenty minutes.

“We started to get hold of the ball through Steve Davies against a difficult opponent and I believe he did give us that foothold.”

Dale were not without chances in the first half, going in 1-0 down at the break. Matt Done had been sent through by a terrific crossfield pass from Harrison McGahey, goalkeeper Christian Walton saving at his feet as he attempted to take the ball round the Latics stopper.

It was the kind of opportunity teams have to take if they are to gain a positive result against sides as strong as Wigan.

“In theory you have to take your half chances,” said Hill. “Matt Done had a great chance after a superb pass from Harrison McGahey and slight mis-timed back header. They are the chances you have to convert to have any chance against this team

“There have been outstanding teams in League One where you can hardly get any change out of them and we have had no change out of Blackburn and no change out of Wigan.

“League One is going to get even worse with teams like that dropping down from the Championship – they will just keep walking away with the league.

“There was evidence tonight to suggest Wigan will run away with it, with Blackburn.”

‘You can learn in situations like that. It might be a good thing we lost’