Report | Latics 4 Accrington Stanley 3
Latics picked up another three points, holding off in-form Accrington to win 4-3.
Goals from Tom James, Dan Gardner and Will Keane had Latics 3-0 up at half time.

Wigan Athletic 4

James 14
Gardner 19
Keane 32 (pen)
Hughes 83 o.g.

Accrington Stanley 3

Pritchard 60
Nottingham 65
Burgess 86

Back-to-back victories will leave a sweet taste in Latics mouths, after Leam Richardson and Gregor Rioch's side came out on top in a seven-goal thriller against Accrington Stanley at the DW Stadium.

It did for a period look like the game could have gone sour for Latics, after the visitors pegged two goals back to cut Latics' 3-0 half time lead down to just one goal, but Olly Crankshaw's endeavour helped his side clinch all three points, despite Cameron Burgess' late attempt to undo all of the hard work late on.

Tom James' diving header, Dan Gardner's volley and Will Keane's penalty had Latics 3-0 up shortly after the half an hour mark, with Crankshaw's strike deflecting in off Mark Hughes inside the final 10 minutes.

Latics made three changes from the previous weekend's 1-0 victory at Sunderland, as Keane and Darnell Johnson returned from injury to join Chris Merrie in the starting XI, with Lee Evans, Kal Naismith and Thelo Aasgaard all missing out due to injuries picked up at the Stadium of Light.

After riding out some initial pressure in the opening 10 minutes, Latics soon burst into life at the other end.

Endeavour, determination and commitment to the cause held a strong thread through Latics' attitude against Accrington, no more so than when James gave his side the lead with a diving header that could have knocked out a few teeth in the process after Tariq

Uwakwe's stray boot caught the Welshman in the face at the same time.

It was Kyle Joseph's hooked cross that gave the flying full back his opportunity, with James jumping in to head home after Toby Savin flapped at the delivery on his line.

Within five minutes Latics were 2-0 up thanks to a first club goal for Gardner, who took advantage of a poor header from Accrington captain Seamus Conneely to steal in behind and thump home a volley from a tight angle on the right.

Latics could have got a third and fourth before they eventually did get another, with Keane, Joseph and James all attempting to scramble the ball home, before another James effort was diverted away from the bottom corner by Hughes.

Seconds later, Keane was given the opportunity to add that crucial third goal and did so with aplomb from the penalty spot after Chris Merrie was fouled inside the box.

Merrie, who worked tirelessly throughout, almost got his first goal in Latics colours before the break, but his left footed bouncer from distance was tipped wide by Savin.

Comfortable at 3-0 with just a few minutes of the first half to play, Joseph continued to work hard for his team mates, constantly harrassing the Accrington back line and forcing mistakes to carve out half chances.

Even immediately after half time it looked more likely that Latics would add to their lead, but following a speculative delivery into the box from Joe Pritchard, things started to get a little difficult.

The midfielder's in-swinger bounced past everyone and found Jamie Jones' left corner to give Accrington hope.

Five minutes later and you'd been forgiven for feeling a sense of impending doom when centre back Michael Nottingham volleyed in a second from the edge of the area, followed by a prolonged period of pressure which had Latics throwing bodies in front of stray shots.

But, as we saw at Sunderland the week before, this Latics time continue to fight on and with seven minutes remaining, the combination of Joseph, Gardner and Crankshaw had Latics 4-2 up and surely out of sight!

Three minutes later and it was all to play for once again when Cameron Burgess lifted a third goal over a rook of players in the six yard box. 4-3.

The aforementioned Joseph continued to work his socks off for the cause up top with help from substitutes Crankshaw and Charlie Jolley who assisting in helping to wind the clock down to see out a second successive victory in Sky Bet League One.

Latics: J.Jones (Capt), James, Johnson, Tilt, Long (Crankshaw 46), Pearce; Merrie, Perry, Gardner (Jolley 89); Joseph, Keane

Subs: O.Evans, Robinson, Obi, Baningime, Smith

Accrington Stanley: Savin, Nottingham, Hughes, Burgess, Butcher, Pritchard, Uwakwe (Cassidy 46), Rodgers (McConville 46), Bishop, Conneely (Capt) (Russell 55), Charles

Subs: Baxter, Barclay, Fenlon, Sama

Report | Wigan Athletic 4 Accrington Stanley 3