Latics take all three points off Tranmere

The Latics took part in a tough encounter with Tranmere in a game that they needed to win to go top of the league. The Latics applied all the pressure in the second half but it took an own goal by the Tranmere goalkeeper in the 92nd. minute to gift all three points to the home team and send the crowd ecstatic. It was nothing less than they deserved after a niggling match where Ronnie Moore's team tried all they could to snatch a point. The down side of the match was the sending off of Richie Wellens after he appeared to stomp on somebody in a midfield skirmish after the goal had been scored. The only save that Les Pogliacomi had to make was in the dying seconds and he did it in style to further frustrate the former boss who never rated the keeper. The save was ironic in that sense and only rubbed salt into the wounds of a dejected Moore.

Latics manager John Sheridan was quick to praise his side when he told the official website, "Even though we were the better team, it didn't look like we'd score as time went on. When Chris Porter has the chance in the first half and then Chris Hall (pictured) hits the post late on, you think it's not going to be your day. Full credit to the lads though. We got at them in the second half, our attitude was different class and we got our just rewards at the end of the day. It was a funny, awkward goal, but at the end of the day it's in the back of the net and we've got the three points. The lads kept passing and didn't hide, and Sean Gregan was outstanding. We looked strong as a team and they didn't cause us too many problems."

"I don't know (who scored the goal) to be honest. The lads are arguing about it in the dressing room. You'd think they were on a bonus for scoring! I don't care, when all's said and done we've won 1-0 and got three points. Obviously Porter and Hall both want the headlines. Ports has scored lots of goals already, and I thought Chris and the other two substitutes (Kelvin Lomax and Gary McDonald) did very well today and added a higher tempo to the game. The fans were different class again. That was the best atmosphere I've been involved in since I've been in and around the club."