HUMBLE COOK STAYS REALISTIC
WIGAN boss Paul Cook insists his promotion-seekers have still achieved nothing tangible after they moved top of League One by sweeping aside Oldham.
Will Grigg gave Wigan the lead while James Vaughan and a magnificent Nick Powell solo effort rounded off a comfortable victory over their fellow Latics on Good Friday.
Cook takes his side, who are unbeaten in eight, to former club Portsmouth on Monday.
“We know we’ve still done nothing in real terms but it’s still nice to look at the table and see yourselves up there,” said Cook, who swapped Fratton Park for the DW Stadium last summer.
“We’re delighted to get back on top of the table.
“When we played Blackburn away the other week, we were four games behind them.
“There’s always a kudos about being top of the league, without a shadow of a doubt.
“That gives us 80 points now with nine games to go – and that’s a great achievement.”
The Oldham defence opened up for Powell after five minutes and his low shot deflected past the post and Johny Placide, who later showed smart reflexes to keep out Ryan Colclough as Grigg hooked the follow-up over.
Dan Burn’s 35th-minute mistake went unpunished as Eoin Doyle found Craig Davies but his weak shot was claimed by Christian Walton.
Moments later, Doyle raced clear of Burn, who did enough to distract the striker, and Walton mopped up as Oldham threatened.
Powell’s fierce 37th-minute effort stung Placide’s palms but Wigan took the lead three minutes later when the ex-Crewe man slipped in Grigg, who clipped home ahead of the goalkeeper and Brian Wilson.
And Wigan doubled their advantage after the break when Kean Bryan’s backpass went straight to Grigg’s replacement Vaughan, who smashed home.
Wigan put the result beyond doubt through Powell’s individual brilliance, the midfielder drifting effortlessly past several Oldham players before burying an effort. Bryan fizzed past the post for Oldham with just over 15 minutes left while Gavin Massey fed in Michael Jacobs, who could have added Wigan’s fourth but Placide parried to safety.
Oldham boss Richie Wellens believes it will be results against the likes of tomorrow’s opponents Blackpool which will seal their fate, rather than against Wigan.
“This game isn’t going to determine whether we stay up or not,” he said.
“They’ve got a really good home record and our home games – Blackpool, Doncaster, Southend, Rochdale away, Wimbledon away – they’re the games that we need to really focus on.”