The Latics returned to winning ways in a confident style and impressed new boss Lee Johnson with a 3-0 thrashing of fellow strugglers Hartlepool United. New manager Lee Johnson immediately worked his magic as the result lifted the Latics out of the relegation spots. Robbie Simpson, Jean-Yves M’voto and Jose Baxter all scored while the defence worked hard to keep a clean sheet.
Johnson said, "I am delighted. The players took to training yesterday, but I knew it would be hard to bed down the principles in one day. I thought the lads were fantastic because they did everything asked of them, and more. We looked energetic, though I knew we could only play for 70 minutes at that tempo. My mentality was to go for it and then hang in. Fitness wise the players are not up to playing 90 minutes like that, but they will get there in three or four games. We have to make sure we go into every game with that tempo. It was such a big result but, more importantly, so was the performance."
"I thought they were to a man fantastic. Lee Barnard did a great job and I was gutted he didn't get a goal which he deserved. Robbie Simpson worked hard in not his ideal position, but that freed Jose Baxter who needs to be given space to produce his magic. I thought he was genius."