Donervon Daniels had a great opportunity to equalise

Another abject home performance by Wigan Athletic allowed crisis club Blackpool to take all three points at the DW Stadium on Saturday.

An unchallenged Tom Aldred headed home from a corner in the 36th minute to give Blackpool an unlikely advantage.

But despite Latics having plenty of possession they lacked the creativity and guile to unlock a resilient and hard working Seasiders defence.

Wigan subsequently drop down to sixth in the table while Blackpool moved out of the relegation zone to 19th.

Gary Caldwell made four changes to the side which lost in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy against Barnsley last week, with Don Cowie, Craig Davies, Donald Love and Yanic Wildschut replacing Jack Hendry, Michael Jacobs, Alex Revell and Andy Kellett.

The match commenced in heavy rain and strong winds making conditions difficult for the players.

Blackpool were the first to show when David Ferguson shot from the edge of the area and his effort just cleared the crossbar.

The Seasiders goalkeeper Dean Lyness then spilled a low cross from Will Grigg but unfortunately no Latics player was on hand to capitalise.

Blackpool were not looking like a team low on confidence and Mark Cullen forced good save from Jussi Jaaskelainen in the sixteenth minute.

Latics were struggling to create any clear-cut opportunities and the Seasiders were looking the more dangerous and they went ahead on 36 minutes.

Abysmal defending by Latics allowed an unchallenged Tom Aldred to head home at the near post from a corner.

Latics tried to respond and a good effort by Will Grigg from the edge of the area was deflected just wide of the target.

Max Power then tried his luck from with a free kick from 30 yards but the ball sailed just over the Blackpool crossbar.

But the visitors were deservedly ahead at the interval as they had mastered the conditions much better and had showed greater desire and commitment than the home team.

Donervon Daniels replaced Don Cowie at the interval and he had a great opportunity just nine minutes into the second half. An unmarked Daniels had a free header from a corner but he headed well wide of the Seasiders goal.

Latics were now enjoying even more possession but they were struggling to penetrate a well-drilled Blackpool defence and were being restricted to shooting from distance.

Donald Love shot from 25 yards forced Dean Lyness into a good save and then Max Power fired over the crossbar from the edge of the area.

Substitute Michael Jacobs created an opportunity for Grigg and then Power but neither player could make the most of it.

Grigg did go close on 74 minutes when he forced a great save from Lyness. The striker met a low cross from Power inside the area and unleashed a powerful drive but the keeper managed to tip the ball over.

Blackpool continued to defy Latics by defending in depth and closing down quickly when Latics found any space.

Latics build up play was often pedestrian and predictable which further helped Blackpool’s cause. Latics did not move the ball quickly enough and they lacked the creativity to unlock the visitors defence.

Yanic Wildschut was limited to only occasional forward runs and when he did get the ball he was well marked by the Pool defenders.

Michael Jacobs did have a late opportunity when he shot from the edge of the area, but Lyness was able to save and the three points deservedly went to the visitors.