Man of the Match Lee Evans

* Wigan Athletic produced their third consecutive victory with a comfortable 2-0 win against Crewe Alexandra at the DW Stadium to ease their relegation worries.

* Latics somewhat fortuitously took the lead in the 15th minute when Joe Dodoo blocked Tom Lowery’s clearance and the ball looped over the Crewe keeper Will Jaaskelainen.

* The hosts dominated the first half and might’ve added to their lead when Jaaskelainen spilled Curtis Tilt’s header but Will Keane couldn’t capitalise on the opportunity.

* Latics continued to press forward in the second half but the visitors kept them at bay until the 72nd minute when Callum Lang was upended in the box by Omar Beccles who was given a red card by referee Declan Bourne. Jaaskelainen got a hand to Lee Evans’ penalty but it was not enough to deny Latics a vital three points in their quest for League One survival.

* Latics move up to 19th place in the table and are now four points above the drop zone. Crewe are in 15th place in the table.

Leam Richardson named an unchanged starting eleven from the 2-1 victory against Sunderland. Striker Kyle Joseph returned to the bench after a long injury.

Crewe had former Latics forward Mikael Mandron in the starting line-up and former defender Donervon Daniels on the bench.

Latics made a slow start in bright sunshine and the visitors had an early chance when Tendayi Darikwa was slow to react and allowed Antony Evans’ to cross from the right but fortunately for the hosts Mandron’s shot was blocked in the centre of the box.

The hosts gradually eased themselves into the game and were ahead on 15 minutes when Dodoo blocked Lowery’s clearance and the ball looped over the Crewe keeper.

Viv Solomon-Otabor was causing plenty of problems for the Crewe defence down the left but his crosses just couldn’t quite find a Latics player in the box.

On the half hour mark Funso Ojo’s strike from the edge of the box was well blocked when he might’ve have passed to Lang in a more dangerous position to his right. Lee Evans’ strike from distance on 39 minutes was straight at Jaaskelainen.

Just before the half time break Evans’ corner was headed towards goal by Tilt and Jaaskelainen spilled the ball but Keane couldn’t quite capitalise on the chance at close range.

The hosts probably should’ve been further ahead in the first half but it was 1-0 at the break.

Latics continued to look the more likely to score in the second half but the visitors held firm. Some erratic refereeing by Declan Bourne didn’t help Latics’ cause but the official did make the right decision on 72 minutes when Lang was brought down by Beccles, a penalty awarded and the Crewe man was red carded.

Evans converted the spot kick despite Jaaskelainen’s best efforts and Latics were now in full control.

Substitute Chris Porter had a half chance for the visitors when he headed over from close range on 79 minutes, but Jamie Jones had been untroubled throughout.

In the latter stages Thelo Aasgaard replaced Solomon-Otabor, Jamie Proctor replaced Dodoo, Dan Gardner replaced Keane, Zach Clough replaced Ojo and Kyle Joseph replaced Lang as Latics comfortably saw out the seven minutes of added time.

After three wins on the spin Latics are now in a much stronger position to ensure their League One survival. It’s been a traumatic season with everything that has happened to the club but if they can secure their League One status in the remaining four games it will be one of the greatest of great escapes that the club has ever achieved.

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