Goals from Jason Pearce and Michael Jacobs were enough to give Wigan a comfortable win over Rochdale at Spotland to extend their unbeaten run to 10 games. The away side took the lead when Pearce headed in unmarked from Jacobs' free kick, although replays showed that he was slightly offside. Jacobs then doubled the lead when he poked in a shot from the edge of the box which hit the crossbar before going in. Dale rarely tested away keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and Wigan saw out the game easily to solidify their place in the top 5 ahead of the 3 o'clock kick offs.
Keith Hill made four changes from the midweek JPT tie as Peter Vincenti, Joe Bunney and Josh Lillis were all recalled, whilst Callum Camps also started despite Hill having ruled him out after he suffered what looked to be a bad injury last weekend. There was also a place on the bench for Ian Henderson, back from injury, who Hill had also ruled out in midweek. Dale started brightly against a strong Wigan side but it was the away team who created the first chance of note when Donervon Daniels fired in a half volley from the edge of the box, forcing a fine save from Josh Lillis. This spurred on the away side and they began to take control of the tie. Ex Dale man David Perkins was causing a lot of problems in the midfield with his familiarly terrier-like style and when Rhys Bennett brought him down outside the box it presented a dangerous opportunity for Wigan to test Dale, and it was an opportunity which they gladly took. Jacobs whipped in an excellent ball and Pearce ghosted away from his marker to head past a helpless Lillis. Wigan were suddenly much the better side and they perhaps should have made it two when neat interplay down the left-hand side freed Max Power who found Jacobs but the midfielder fired his shot well wide of the target. Dale lacked the attacking finesse once again and when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing fired well wide from a promising situation the fans were rightly disappointed, although captain Peter Vincenti was furious as a cross would have been the better option as the wide-man had a huge height advantage over left-back Reece James at the back post.
Dale improved after the break and began to pass the ball a lot better, having given it away on numerous occasions in the first half, but Wigan still possessed a huge attacking threat, mainly through Yanic Wildschut. The winger, on loan from Middlesbrough, was a constant thorn in the Dale defence from his powerful running style and ability to beat a man. Dale had a great chance to equalise when Jaaskelainen spilled Michael Rose's cross but Bunney couldn't find the net. The tactical switch to put Rhys Bennett had slightly nullified Wildschut's threat with Andy Cannon moved to midfield. Wildschut was pivotal however in Wigan's second goal which killed off the game. Daniels played a wonderful ball out to the Dutchman who beat Bennett far too easily on the outside before picking out Jacobs, and the midfield finished wonderfully past Lillis to seal the win. The introductions of Calvin Andrew and Henderson from the bench looked to give Dale a little more attacking impetus but they lacked creativity and any sort of finishing touch. The replacement of Mendez-Laing in particular annoyed home fans as his pace and power would have perhaps been more effective with the support of Henderson and Andrew up front. Dale did finally test Jaaskelainen when Bunney fired a shot goalwards but the experienced keeper made an excellent save to push it wide. Wigan had a late chance to make it 3-0 when Perkins hit a long-range drive but Josh Lillis pulled off a comfortable save to keep it 2-0, which is how the game would finish. The result means Dale are without a win in seven now and after a promising start to the season, fans would perhaps be content with preserving their League One status for another season.
Full Time: Rochdale 0-2 Wigan
Man of the Match: Yanic Wildschut
Keith Hill made four changes from the midweek JPT tie as Peter Vincenti, Joe Bunney and Josh Lillis were all recalled, whilst Callum Camps also started despite Hill having ruled him out after he suffered what looked to be a bad injury last weekend. There was also a place on the bench for Ian Henderson, back from injury, who Hill had also ruled out in midweek. Dale started brightly against a strong Wigan side but it was the away team who created the first chance of note when Donervon Daniels fired in a half volley from the edge of the box, forcing a fine save from Josh Lillis. This spurred on the away side and they began to take control of the tie. Ex Dale man David Perkins was causing a lot of problems in the midfield with his familiarly terrier-like style and when Rhys Bennett brought him down outside the box it presented a dangerous opportunity for Wigan to test Dale, and it was an opportunity which they gladly took. Jacobs whipped in an excellent ball and Pearce ghosted away from his marker to head past a helpless Lillis. Wigan were suddenly much the better side and they perhaps should have made it two when neat interplay down the left-hand side freed Max Power who found Jacobs but the midfielder fired his shot well wide of the target. Dale lacked the attacking finesse once again and when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing fired well wide from a promising situation the fans were rightly disappointed, although captain Peter Vincenti was furious as a cross would have been the better option as the wide-man had a huge height advantage over left-back Reece James at the back post.
Dale improved after the break and began to pass the ball a lot better, having given it away on numerous occasions in the first half, but Wigan still possessed a huge attacking threat, mainly through Yanic Wildschut. The winger, on loan from Middlesbrough, was a constant thorn in the Dale defence from his powerful running style and ability to beat a man. Dale had a great chance to equalise when Jaaskelainen spilled Michael Rose's cross but Bunney couldn't find the net. The tactical switch to put Rhys Bennett had slightly nullified Wildschut's threat with Andy Cannon moved to midfield. Wildschut was pivotal however in Wigan's second goal which killed off the game. Daniels played a wonderful ball out to the Dutchman who beat Bennett far too easily on the outside before picking out Jacobs, and the midfield finished wonderfully past Lillis to seal the win. The introductions of Calvin Andrew and Henderson from the bench looked to give Dale a little more attacking impetus but they lacked creativity and any sort of finishing touch. The replacement of Mendez-Laing in particular annoyed home fans as his pace and power would have perhaps been more effective with the support of Henderson and Andrew up front. Dale did finally test Jaaskelainen when Bunney fired a shot goalwards but the experienced keeper made an excellent save to push it wide. Wigan had a late chance to make it 3-0 when Perkins hit a long-range drive but Josh Lillis pulled off a comfortable save to keep it 2-0, which is how the game would finish. The result means Dale are without a win in seven now and after a promising start to the season, fans would perhaps be content with preserving their League One status for another season.
Full Time: Rochdale 0-2 Wigan
Man of the Match: Yanic Wildschut