Joe Garner on target for Latics

It’s been a special week for Wigan Athletic as they received news of new Spanish owners and achieved their first back-to-back League wins of the season.

After a difficult first half, when Doncaster spurned several good chances, Latics improved markedly in the second half. 

Pressing high and giving the visitors little room to play out from the back they dominated and scored on 59 minutes when Joe Garner executed a perfect header from Solomon-Otabor’s excellent deep cross.

Soon afterwards Solomon-Otabor should’ve added a second when set up by Garner but Josef Bursik made a good save low down to his left.

Ultimately the hosts ran out comfortable winners as the visitors rarely threatened during the second period.

Latics move up to 10th in the table while Doncaster sit in fifth.

John Sheridan named new loan signing Darnell Johnson in his starting defence alongside Kal Naismith with Danny Fox likely to move away from the club. Gavin Massey returned to the starting eleven after injury.

Latics started brightly and Tom Pearce’s looping cross nearly found Garner on the edge of the six yard box after only three minutes.

The hosts had a shout for a possible handball on eight minutes when Massey’s shot was blocked by a Doncaster defender.

Solomon-Otabor then produced a neat turn and shot from the edge of the box on sixteen minutes but Doncaster gradually asserted themselves and started to create opportunities at the other end.

On 17 minutes Jamie Jones made two good saves in quick succession from James Coppinger.

Jon Taylor then dragged his shot wide from a good position on 31 minutes as the visitors began to dominate.

Fortunately for Latics the Doncaster pressure came to nothing and Latics could regroup during the half time interval.

Latics started the second half pressing much higher up the pitch and this was to be the catalyst for their victory.

The hosts were ahead on 59 minutes when Solomon-Otabor’s cross was converted by Garner when he headed expertly beyond Bursik.

Garner then set up Solomon-Otabor but the winger’s effort was well saved by Bursik on 62 minutes.

Latics were in complete control now as the visitors struggled to get out of their own half and pose any attacking threat.

Latics back line was rarely troubled and their possession based football enabled them to run out comfortable winners. New loanee Darnell Johnson had a strong debut and looks a promising addition to the team.

If the new Spanish owners can stabilise the club and make a few astute additions Latics might even be able to challenge at the top of the table, a thought which was almost unthinkable a few weeks ago.

Player ratings courtesy of WhoScored.com