• Wigan Athletic crashed to a 6-1 defeat to Peterborough United which resulted in the sacking of Head Coach Ryan Lowe. 
• Latics were 2-0 down after only nine minutes as Kyrell Lisbie scored twice for the Posh with assists by Tom Lees.
• Loanee Joe Taylor pulled a goal back for Latics on 27 minutes after good work by Callum Wright.
• On 41 minutes a Jimmy-Jay Morgan header restored the Posh’s two goal advantage.
• Harry Leonard made it 4-1 on 68 minutes when he headed home Morgan’s cross from close range.
  Substitute Pemi Aderoju made it 5-1 on 84 minutes.
• The rout was completed in the 90th minute when some shambolic defending allowed Lisbie to complete his hat-trick and make it 6-1 to the hosts.
• Latics drop into the relegation zone in 22nd place and Peterborough are now in 10th place.

Lowe made four changes for the trip to Peterborough with new signing Jack Hunt, Steven Sessegnon, Raphael and Joe Hungbo coming into the starting line-up. Jensen Weir, James Carragher, Fraser Murray and Asamoah Jr were left out.

The hosts were ahead after only seven minutes. Lees burst down the right and crossed to the back post and Lisbie, tapped in from inside the six-yard box.  

Just two minutes later, the Posh doubled their lead after a short free-kick was played to Cian Hayes, who crossed towards the back post, where Lees was waiting to turn the ball for Lisbie to head home from close range. 

Latics reduced the deficit on 27 minutes  after good work by Wright who dispossessed a defender and picked out Taylor who finished into the bottom corner from 12 yards out.

Lowe changed his line-up soon afterwards when Sessegnon was replaced by Christian Saydee, but Peterborough were soon able to increase their lead.

A long kick from Alex Bass eventually came to Jimmy-Jay Morgan who lobbed the ball over Sam Tickle and onto the bar before he reacted quickest to head in the rebound. 

After the break, both sides struggled for opportunities but on 58 minutes Fraser Murray replaced Hungbo which sparked some good work between Owen Moxon and Saydee, but Moxon’s final strike was well saved by Bass.

Peterborough effectively sealed the three points on 68 minutes when Latics failed to clear their lines, and Jimmy-Jay Morgan crossed to the back post and Leonard headed home from very close range.

The Posh further increased their advantage on 84 minutes as Latics lost possession in the final third and Decland Frith fed Aderoju, who finished into the bottom corner. 

The rout was completed in the 90th minute when some shambolic defending allowed Lisbie to complete his hat-trick and make it 6-1 to the hosts.

Overview

This was a desperately poor performance by Latics that sealed the departure of Ryan Lowe.

They went behind after only seven minutes and then Peterborough doubled their lead after only nine minutes and matters only got progressively worse as the game progressed. 

It was evident to the players and the fans that Lowe should’ve been sacked weeks ago but the board persisted in the belief that he could turn it around.

Director of Football Gregor Rioch stupidly stated (although he later backtracked) that Latics wouldn’t be relegated. 

It was a ridiculous claim given Latics situation and the downward spiral of results.

Lowe had seemed oblivious to the results and his manner in his press conferences was delusional to say the least.

It was inevitable that he would eventually be sacked but it was incredible that it has taken so long for the board to act.

The team are in a desperate run of form, they have not won in seven games and are now in the bottom four.

The change now at least gives the club an opportunity for survival. 

In the interim, Glenn Whelan & Graham Barrow will take on First Team matters, while the club identify and appoint a new Head Coach.

Post-match comments

Ryan Lowe did not give a press conference after the game.

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