Man of the match Nick Powell

Wigan Athletic moved to the top of the League One table with a convincing 3-0 victory against relegation-threatened Oldham Athletic at the DW Stadium.

After a brisk opening 40 minutes with both teams creating chances it was the hosts who deservedly went ahead through Will Grigg following a fine pass from Nick Powell.

Early in the second-half substitute James Vaughan doubled the lead when he fired home from close range after a dreadful back pass from an Oldham defender.

Nick Powell rounded off a Man of the Match performance with a superb solo third goal on 66 minutes driving past several defenders before unleashing an unstoppable low drive into the bottom corner.

Latics move to the top of the table, one point clear of second-placed Blackburn, with a game in hand, and two ahead of third-placed Shrewsbury, who have played two games more.

Paul Cook made two changes to the team that defeated Bury, with captain Samy Morsy returning from international duty and replacing Jay Fulton and Grigg coming in for Vaughan.

Powell nearly opened the scoring after six minutes when the Oldham defence parted in front of him and the mercurial midfielder curled a low shot into the bottom corner but keeper Johny Placide did well to turn the ball around the post.

Dan Gardner tried his luck at the other end but Christian Walton saved well low down.

Ryan Colclough then forced a save from Placide at close range and from the rebound Grigg skied his effort over the crossbar.

The visitors then had a great opportunity when Eoin Doyle broke free of the Wigan defence and had a one-on-one with Walton but the striker’s weak effort was easily saved by the keeper.

The visitors were made to pay for the miss on 40 minutes when Powell played Grigg in on goal and the striker lifted the ball over the advancing keeper and the into the net for a quality finish.

Grigg took a knock from the keeper in the process of scoring and was replaced by Vaughan at half time.

At the beginning of the second-half Vaughan was almost immediately presented with a gift wrapped opportunity to double the lead and he duly obliged blasting the ball home from close range following a poor back pass.

Oldham kept plugging away but Wigan were always the more likely to add to their lead and they sealed the three points on 66 minutes when the maestro who had orchestrated the victory got on the scoresheet.

Powell was head and shoulders the best player on the pitch and he evaded two defenders and drove into the penalty area before unleashing an unstoppable low drive into the bottom corner.

Powell nearly rounded off his virtuoso display with a second goal soon afterwards but his goal bound effort from inside the area was deflected wide by a defender.

Michael Jacobs should probably have made it four late on, but his shot was saved by Placide at his near post.

A comfortable victory for Wigan, and with Shrewsbury losing at Rochdale, it puts them in a very strong position for automatic promotion with nine games remaining. They are likely to face a much sterner test at Portsmouth on Easter Monday, but a good result at Fratton Park would consolidate their place at the top of the table.