Nick Powell perfect penalty

Nick Powell’s late penalty was enough to seal the three points against Plymouth Argyle and move Latics up to second place in the League One table.

Latics had created numerous chances but Argyle had defended in depth and managed to repel all attacks until they conceded an 82nd minute penalty when Ivan Toney was pushed in the area by Jamie Ness.

Powell stepped up and fired a perfect penalty into the top right hand corner past Kyle Letheren much to the relief of the home crowd.

Latics made two changes to the team which lost at Peterborough with captain Sam Morsy back after suspension, and Will Grigg replacing David Perkins and Ivan Toney.

In typical fashion Latics dominated from the kick-off and could have been ahead after only 90 seconds when Gavin Massey crossed for Nick Powell who headed wide of the target.

Powell also fired free-kick wide after nine minutes after Michael Jacobs was brought down on the edge of the box. Then an Evans free-kick was headed out to Morsy who volleyed the ball back into the area and Grigg headed against the cross bar from a good position.

Massey then forced a good save from Letheren after 20 minutes after good work by Grigg and Jacobs had created the chance.

Massey had another shot deflected by Ness after 33 minutes but Letheren was able to make another good save.

It was one-way traffic as Latics pressed for a breakthrough and Argyle offered little going forward and had clearly come to try and get a point.

Grigg then nearly broke the deadlock on 44 minutes from a pull back by Jacobs but his effort was blocked by Songo’o. Jacobs then had another great chance but his curling shot was superbly turned around the post by Letheren.

Argyle did have a couple of rare opportunities when Ryan Edwards headed a Graham Carey corner just wide and Jamie Jones saved an effort from Joel Grant, but it would have been an injustice if they had gone ahead.

The second half continued with Latics controlling possession and continuing to create chances. Nick Powell twice went close with headers that Letheren had to tip over the cross bar.

Latics made a double substitution on 61 minutes, with Ivan Toney replacing Grigg and Callum Elder replacing Reece James.

Letheren then made another excellent save from close range after 64 minutes, Toney’s downward header from Nathan Byrne’s right wing cross looked destined for the net but the keeper somehow kept it out.

Powell then had a goal disallowed for offside on 68 minutes and it was looking as though Latics’ luck might be out on the night.

But they persevered and with eight minutes remaining Toney was pushed in the area by Ness and the referee pointed to the spot. Under pressure Powell produced a perfect penalty firing high into the top right hand corner and giving Letheren no chance.

An important win for Latics after Saturday’s disappointing defeat at Peterborough. A result which moves them up to second in the table and drops Argyle down to rock bottom after 10 games played.