RAMPANT WIGAN THE REAL DEAL
WIGAN assistant manager Leam Richardson said his side will keep their feet on the ground despite a fourth straight victory which shot the new title favourites to the top of League One.
A powerful start and early goals from Ivan Toney and Michael Jacobs settled the derby contest, and it was a result that plunged Oldham to joint-bottom of the table.
“We are pleased with our start to the season, but our feet are firmly on the ground,” Richardson said.
“The next priority is to dust ourselves down, get over some knocks and bruises and be ready for the next game.
“This was a professional performance, which it needed to be because it would have been uncomfortable if we had taken our eye off the ball and let Oldham back into it.
“We started the game really well and deserved to be in front, but we expected a tough second half from Oldham and that’s what we got.
“We had to stay honest for 90plus minutes and we knew we would need to defend well.”
The opening goal on eight minutes came when Lee Evans worked a short corner and fired a powerful cross into the box that deflected off Toney and beyond the despairing grasp of home goalkeeper Ben Wilson.
Eight minutes later, as the visitors turned the screw, a scrappy goal doubled the lead. Nick Powell’s flighted pass found the run of the excellent Jacobs and though his initial shot was blocked, in the scramble that followed he rounded Wilson and fired low between the legs of defender Anthony Gerrard stationed on the goal-line.
Powell and Gavin Massey forced further saves, but Oldham gamely battled on and Ollie Banks saw an improvised backheel smothered by Christian Walton early in the second half.
Wigan had the game under control in the main, though home winger Ryan McLaughlin stung the palms of Walton in the final minute.
Oldham manager John Sheridan praised his side’s battling qualities in spite of conceding twice so early.
“It was disappointing, but we played against a good team and even this early in the season it wouldn’t surprise me if they went on to win the league,” he said. “I knew they were a good footballing side, as we had them watched last week. I played a system to have us keeping the ball a little bit better and affect the game a bit more. “But you can’t give the goals away that we did. They started better and looked brighter, but it’s difficult when you concede twice against a good footballing side. “I’m proud of my players and the way they kept going, but we are lacking a cutting edge.”