Dan Burn scored his second goal of the season

Wigan Athletic increased their lead to four points at the top of the League One table with a comfortable 2-0 victory against Fleetwood Town at the DW Stadium.

Latics hardly needed to get out of second gear to overcome a mediocre Fleetwood and were ahead after only seven minutes when Nick Powell headed home Lee Evans’ left wing cross.

It was mainly one way traffic and Latics doubled their lead on 38 minutes when centre back Dan Burn steered another Evans cross, this time from the right, into the top corner.

Former manager Uwe Rösler’s Fleetwood rarely tested returning keeper Christian Walton although they did hit the crossbar with a Ashley Eastham header.

In a disappointing second half Latics somehow failed to increase their lead despite dominating possession and creating some good chances.

But with six games coming up in the next 21 days starting against AFC Fylde in the FA Cup, Latics will be pleased to have got the three points in the bag and have increased their advantage over second placed Shrewsbury.

Manager Cook made three changes from the team which drew at AFC Fylde with on-loan keeper Christian Walton, Ryan Colclough and Powell coming into the starting line-up.

Latics were quickly in control with Powell heading home Lee Evans’ excellent cross from the left after only seven minutes.

Ashley Eastham headed onto the top of the crossbar following a corner for the visitors but it was Latics in the ascendancy with Michael Jacobs and Reece James both having efforts well blocked.

Latics were camped in the Fleetwood half but were unable to make their dominance count until on 38 minutes another Evans cross found Dan Burn in the box and the big centre half made no mistake with his header from six yards out.

Devante Cole had a rare effort towards goal at the beginning of the second half for the visitors but it was still Latics who looked more likely to add to their lead.

Powell might have done better with his effort from the edge of the box but his shot went narrowly wide of the target.

In what proved to be a fairly insipid second period Latics were lacking a cutting edge and Paul Cook brought Max Power and Gavin Massey on to replace Will Grigg and Ryan Colclough.

Power soon had his low drive pushed away by Alex Cairns but Powell was unable to capitalise on the rebound.

Ivan Toney replaced Powell on 78 minutes and the substitute had a good opportunity in added time to increase the margin of victory, but his drive was saved by Cairns legs and the score remained at 2-0.