BLACKBURN ROVERS 0

WIGAN Athletic 3 Grigg (14), Powell (33), Duffy (63 og)

OWEN COYLE endured a miserable return to the DW Stadium as Wigan thrashed Blackburn to record their first win back in the second tier.

Coyle was sacked by Wigan three seasons ago, less than four months after succeeding Roberto Martinez.

And his afternoon was every bit as miserable as the tail end of his regime, with the Rovers supporters venting their anger long before the final whistle.

The first half was as onesided as could be imagined, with the only surprise being that Wigan were only two goals ahead at the break.

Will Grigg opened the scoring from close range after Max Power had dragged a shot into his path.

Nick Powell doubled the lead with a magnificent free- kick into a top corner from 20 yards.

Alex Gilbey, Grigg and Yanic Wildschut also came close to further goals with the Blackburn defence being repeatedly run ragged.

The visitors improved for the start of the second period and the first 15 minutes after the restart was all Blackburn.

Jack Byrne was desperately unlucky to see a right-footed curler loop over Adam Bogdan only to bounce off the top of the bar and, after Bogdan failed to deal with a cross from the right, Shane Duffy lashed goalwards only for Dan Burn to produce a superb block.

Anthony Stokes headed just wide from another corner, but Wigan managed to kill off the game with a third goal just after an hour.

Power’s cross from the right evaded sub Michael Jacobs at the near post, but Duffy could only bundle the ball home in comedic fashion.

Wigan took the opportunity to rest Grigg, with Craig Davies coming on, but Rovers were unable to muster even a consolation.