Football: Rochdale 1 - 4 Wigan Athletic

Three goals in eight second half minutes saw Rochdale well beaten as Wigan climbed to the top of League One with a comfortable victory.

A headed goal by defender Dan Burn was the difference at the interval in a half of that saw both sides hit the woodwork but it was a devastating spell around the hour that saw Wigan run out clear winners.

James Vaughan, Michael Jacobs and Will Grigg each got on the scoresheet to move Wigan above Blackburn into top spot. Dale got a late consolation through a Steven Davies penalty after Calvin Andrew was felled.

After the pulsating game against Portsmouth four days ago, Dale manager Keith Hill opted for an unchanged line-up against a side that will more than likely be back in the Championship next season.

The opening exchanges were scrappy although Dale were more than holding their own against the former Premier League side until the 17^th minute. A deep corner was headed back into the mix by Chey Dunkley with his central defensive partner Dan Burns on hand to head past Lillis from seven yards out.

Rochdale responded well to going behind and really took the game to Wigan but just couldn’t really test goalkeeper Christian Walton.

Calvin Andrew flashed a header across the face of goal whilst Matt Done did likewise minutes later.

Stephen Humphrys was replaced after just twenty minutes for tactical reasons with Steven Davies entering the action.

The next chance fell to Wigan as they hit Dale on the counter attack. A swift break away saw Jacobs hit a powerful shot; blocked by McGahey and when the ball came back to Powell, the former Manchester United man crashed a shot off the inside of the right-hand post with the ball flashing across the face of goal and out for a goal-kick.

Having survived that scare, it was Dale’s turn to come close through Joe Rafferty. A near post corner routine was headed goalward by the full back and with Walton beaten the ball bounced off the top of the bar before being turned behind for another corner.

Wigan looked strong but a mistake by Byrne saw Done through on goal and when it seemed he would round the stricken keeper, Walton reached out and gathered the ball at the feet of the Dale full back.

The game was opening up as half time approached. Josh Lillis pulled off a super one handed save to tip away a Byrne shot whilst Inman’s good touch created space for Done, but his effort deflected wide.

With optimism high from the first half showing, Dale were left shell-shocked by a three goal burst early in the second half. Some neat one-touch football in the middle of the pitch saw Wigan carve open the Dale defence and when substitute James Vaughan was played through, he made no mistake against the onrushing Lillis.

Two soon became three when Byrne stole the ball off Alex Dobre in midfield. The defender strode forward before laying off to Jacobs who finished with aplomb from 18 yards out.

With the game over as a contest, Wigan went in search of more goals and number four duly came after a mistake by Lillis. Gavin Massey’s long-range shot was too hot to handle for the Dale keeper, who spilled the ball to Will Grigg , one of the most prolific scorers in League One, who scored his 24^th goal of the season from a narrow angle.

Rochdale got a goal back with three minutes remaining after Chey Dunkley tripped Andrew inside the area. Steven Davies hit his penalty kick into the top corner for a late consolation.

Defeat for Dale leaves them in the bottom four and with a trip to Peterborough on Saturday they will need to find the form that saw wins against the likes of Rotherham and Walsall if they are to continue the great escape.

Rochdale: Lillis, Rafferty, McGahey, McNulty (Delaney 57), Done, Camps, Rathbone (Dobre 58), Inman, Henderson ©, Humphrys (Davies 20), Andrew
Subs: (not used) Moore, Ntlhe, Wiseman, Thompson

Wigan: Walton, Byrne, Burn, Dunkley, Elder, Morsy ©, Power, Jacobs, Powell (Vaughan 45), Massey (Walker 78), Grigg (Roberts 72)
Subs: (not used) Jones, Bruce, Perkins, Colclough

Referee: Mr D Webb
Assistants: Mr D Plowright & Mr O Bickle
Fourth Official: Mr M Heywood

Attendance: 3,850 (1,629 from Wigan)