Gavin Massey grabbed a brace

Wigan Athletic recorded their first ever win at The Valley with a convincing 3-0 performance against Charlton Athletic. Latics created plenty of early chances but had to wait until just before half time when Gavin Massey converted Reece James’ cross from close range.

Massey increased Latics lead on 69 minutes when he found space in the box after a good pull back from Nathan Byrne. Captain Sam Morsy rounded off a superb night for the away team when he drilled home from near the penalty spot to make it 3-0.

Latics made one change from the team beaten at Shrewsbury with Will Grigg replacing Ivan Toney who dropped to the bench.

The visitors attacked right from the kick off and Massey should have put Latics ahead in the opening seconds when he headed wide from close range.

This was soon followed by a Nick Powell shot from a good position and a header from the same player that was narrowly wide of the target, then Michael Jacobs fired his free kick straight at Ben Amos, all in the opening eight minutes.

Charlton had their first effort on goal on 23 minutes when Jamie Jones made a good save to deny Tarigue Fosu-Henry. On the half hour mark Jake Forster-Caskey hit the crossbar and Josh Magennis just failed to convert the rebound.

But Latics quickly took back control of the game and went ahead just before the interval following good play by Reece James. The full back linked up with Jacobs before producing a superb cross which Massey tapped home from inside the six yard box.

Latics dominance continued at the beginning of the second half with Amos saving well from Powell’s 20 yard effort and then from Massey’s angled drive. They forced a succession of corners and Powell curled another shot wide of the target.

Jacobs then broke quickly before firing narrowly of wide Amos’ post and Alex Bruce probably should have done better when he had a free header inside the Charlton box.

The visitors dominance was rewarded on 69 minutes when Massey added his second goal after excellent play by the overlapping full back Byrne.

Latics sensibly managed out the rest of the game fairly comfortably making three substitutions in the process, Ivan Toney replacing Nick Powell, Max Power replacing Will Grigg and Callum Elder replacing Michael Jacobs.

Sam Morsy rounded off a splendid night for Latics and the travelling faithful when he drilled home the third and final goal just before the final whistle.

Wigan move up to sixth in the League One table with a game in hand on most of the teams around them, while Charlton drop from second to third place.