Wigan's class shines through

ON THE ATTACK . . . Courtney Duffus tries to make an impact in front of goal

THE HURLY BURLY at this level is rarely pierced by one side comprehensively outclassing another.

Yet this is what occurred in the opening half-hour here as champions-elect Wigan won every battle on the pitch at a canter.

Nick Powell was imperious in his movement around and behind a remodelled home midfield and Michael Jacobs' strong running ripped defensive holes seemingly at will.

John Sheridan's side wobbled and then succumbed. After eight minutes, a short corner caught out the hosts and Ivan Toney somehow deflected Lee Evans' cross beyond the flailing Ben Wilson, who to his credit almost clawed the ball out diving to his right.

That strike came from a corner that might have been a throw-in had the over-burdened Anthony Gerrard got his clearance right.

And with no semblance of control over the darting runs and carefully chipped through balls of former Manchester United man Powell et al, the second goal after 16 minutes effectively finished off this game as a contest.

Frustratingly for Athletic, who gamely battled on to give the visitors something to think about at the start of the second half, it was a strike that should have been avoided.

CLEVER

Powell's clever pass into the running Jacobs' path was a beauty and while his first shot was blocked by Clarke and Ben Wilson, he collected the rebound to skirt round a packed penalty area and fire low and between Gerrard's legs on the goal line.

As a farcical goal from a mad scramble, it resembled the match-winner at Walsall the previous week.

Sheridan's post-game wrath was felt at the Banks's Stadium but here, there was a reasonable acceptance of the fact his side came across a far stronger outfit.

Even Will Grigg can't get a game at the moment - and he scored 28 goals for the 'other' Latics in his previous season at this level.

Athletic have scored once in three league outings, through a Ryan McLaughlin cross that went straight in at Walsall, and didn't truly look like breaching the defence of Paul Cook's class-act defence.

It was again McLaughlin came closest in the final minute, warming the palms of goalkeeper Christian Walton after cutting infield from the left wing, but there remained a sustained lack of threat in the final third.

Sheridan made three changes to his starting line-up, in keeping with his vow to try to mould a team capable of being better in possession.

In the same 4-1-4-1 formation as was on show at Walsall, this time the crafty wiles of debutant Dan Gardner were preferred to the less subtle Ousmane Fane. Gardner was the best home player on show and while some of his passes went astray, he did offer some of the guile that had been missing in terms of guiding the team around the field.

Rob Hunt was surprisingly handed a central midfield brief. The left-back was selected to provide defensive nous alongside Ollie Banks - a target for jeers from some supporters, but who never hid from trying to be positive in possession - with Gyamfi Kyeremeh stationed on the left flank. The Belgian winger, another making his debut, looked sharp at times and almost made a goal for Banks at the start of the second half with a dart and a cross that was nodded back by Aaron Amadi-Holloway at the far post. Banks's attempted flick was smothered by Walton.

By that stage, in the 47th minute, Athletic could have been at least 3-0 down. Powell had plenty of time to place his 24th-minute shot from 18 yards too wide of Ben Wilson for him to stretch and push it aside, while eight minutes before the interval another Jacobs drive and back-heel set in Gavin Massey whose attempt was also well-parried.

Athletic continued to push and didn't give up, but there was also a sense throughout the second period that Wigan were comfortable and keeping plenty in reserve.

Toney volleyed wide of the near post with a snap-shot just before the hour and Evans saw an effort deflect behind after a flowing move.

Darius Osei and Courtney Duffus were employed in the 68th minute as Athletic went 4-4-2 to try to add impetus to their forward thrusts.

But up until McLaughlin's 90th-minute shot, there was energy and effort aplenty but not too much tangible end result.

A fourth straight defeat in league and cup for Athletic, the deficiencies within a lightly-numbered squad were magnified.

There is surely no better outfit than Wigan in the division, but Athletic, who could well have done with the benefit of injured quartet Craig Davies, Tope Obadeyi, Paul Green and Ryan Flynn, will need to find one or two high-calibre additions in order to lift spirits amid this early-season slump.