Richardson grounded as Latics edge towards top

LEAM Richardson refused to get carried away, despite his Wigan side closing the gap on leaders Rotherham – with two games in hand – after thumping Morecambe at the DW.

Goals from Josh Magennis, Jason Kerr, Will Keane and Stephen Humphrys saw Latics see off the Shrimpers, who replied through Dylan Connolly from the penalty spot.

“At the end of the season, you have to accumulate an amount of points to get you where you want to be,” he said.

“Without showing any disrespect to anyone, we have to concentrate on ourselves.

“Whatever goes on elsewhere, we can’t control, it’s irrelevant. But if results go our way, we’ll take it.”

Richardson was more concerned with seeing his side sign off for a fortnight’s break – next Saturday’s trip to Burton is off due to international commitments – on a high.

“Credit goes to the players, who’ve rounded off another big week in the right way,” added the boss.

“Our lads were professional all afternoon, we posed a threat all afternoon, and we deserved to win the game.”

Magennis netted his second goal in two matches to open the scoring after 19 minutes from Tendayi Darikwa’s cross.

Wigan had to wait until a minute before half-time to double their lead, when

Kerr applied the finishing touch after James McClean’s corner was flicked on by Tom Naylor.

Connolly pulled one back four minutes after the restart from via a penalty, after Cole Stockton had seen a shot blocked by a hand.

But the home side remained in charge, and secured the win with two quickfire strikes.

First,

Keane nodded in Naylor’s goalbound header. Then, Humphrys lashed home a left-foot volley from the edge of the area. Morecambe manager Derek Adams acknowledged his side’s defensive record – 79 goals shipped in, the worst in the division – is a major concern.

He said: “Initially we coped well and limited them to a few chances. But we lost a poor first goal.

“We are just not strong enough. The penalty kicked us on but, again, we conceded another poor goal and then again for the fourth.

“We have to defend better. We’re two points adrift, but still in touch. We have to make it count.”