Sensational Latics performance seals important home victory in the fight for Sky Bet League One survival.

Report | Wigan Athletic 3–0 MK Dons
Latics claim vital three points with impressive performance
Goals from George Johnston, Callum Lang & Joe Dodoo secure the result at the DW Stadium

WIGAN ATHLETIC 3
Johnston 24’
Lang 64’
Dodoo 69’

MILTON KEYNES DONS 0

Wigan Athletic secured a huge result in their fight for survival in Sky Bet League One as they recorded a 3-0 victory over MK Dons at the DW Stadium.

Latics were dominant in large periods of games, and today made their dominance and possession count as goals from George Johnston, Callum Lang and Joe Dodoo handed the home side all three points.

Latics made two changes from the side that was narrowly beaten in midweek against Charlton, with Callum Lang and George Johnston coming in to the starting XI to replace Thelo Aasgaard and Dan Gardner.

It was the home side that started the brighter and they had a big chance to open the scoring inside three minutes as nice play between Darikwa and Lang put the striker one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but a good save from Andrew Fisher denied the striker.

Latics continued in the ascendency in the opening stages of the game, and with both Viv Solomon-Otabor and Lang looking lively, Leam Richardson’s deservedly opened the scoring after 24 minutes through Johnston. Solomon-Otabor was able to beat his defender on the left-hand side before lifting the ball nicely to the far post where Johnston was on hand to brilliantly guide his header past Fisher to grab his first goal in senior football.

Richardson and Gregor Rioch’s side continued in the same manner following the opening goal and they had a huge chance to extend their lead ten minutes later.

A superb defensive block from a goal-bound Matt O’Riley effort resulted in an opportunity for a counter-attack from Latics and Darikwa and Massey exploited the space. A neat one-two between the pair down the right-hand side ended with Darikwa pulling the ball back for the Latics winger to strike, but another good save from Fisher denied the home side a second.

MK Dons tried to play themselves back into the game and made two first half substitutions in an attempt to change their fortunes, and carved out two chances before the break.

First, Ethan Laird cut inside from the right-hand side to force Jamie Jones into a decent save, before Harry Darling hit the post for Russell Martin’s men with an effort from 30 yards out. Despite these chances, Latics held strong and went into the break with a one-goal advantage.

The Dons came out for the second half and started well in search for an equaliser, but could only carve out half opportunities, with efforts from Joe Mason and Darling not testing Jamie Jones.

After holding firm following a period of extended pressure from the away side, Latics had a platform to build themselves into the second half, and made it count as Lang doubled the home side’s advantage.

Outstanding defensive work from Funso Ojo dispossessed the Dons inside their half, before the ball was moved out to Massey on the right-hand side. The Latics winger crossed into the centre of the penalty area and Lang headed home unmarked with Fisher rooted to the spot.

With that second goal handing Latics a huge platform to take all three points, they quickly turned a two-goal lead into three as Dodoo tapped home to seal it.

A poor backwards pass to Fisher forced the error from the Dons keeper under pressure from Dodoo. Solomon-Otabor intercepted the loose pass and drove into the box, drawing in the keeper and setting up Dodoo to simply slot home to grab Latics’ third.

Following the goal from Dodoo, Latics were happy to defend their lead and see the game out. Despite the Dons pushing late on to grab a consolation goal, with Scott Fraser coming closest when hitting the crossbar, Latics held firm to grab a clean sheet and round off a perfect afternoon at the DW Stadium.

Latics: Jones (Capt); Darikwa, Johnston, Tilt, Wootton, Robinson; Ojo (Perry 90’), Lang (Aasgaard 84’), Massey (Clough 90’), Solomon-Otabor (Gardner 84’), Dodoo (Proctor 74’).
Subs: Evans, Whelan.

MK Dons: Fisher, Lewington (Capt), Darling, Grigg (McEachran 74’), Fraser, Laird, O'Hora, O'Riley, Mason (Jerome 59’), Harvie (Jules 30’), Houghton (Surman 30’).
Subs: Nicholls, Brown, Thompson.

Report | Latics 3 MK Dons 0