Baxter cheer for Latics
Jose Baxter provided Latics with some much-needed cheer as he gave them a 1-0 half-time lead in their npower League One match at Hartlepool United.
It was striker Baxter's seventh goal of the campaign and followed a calamitous blunder by the home side.
It was striker Baxter's seventh goal of the campaign and followed a calamitous blunder by the home side.
Latics received a seventh-minute let-off when a header from Steve Howard, following a right-wing cross from Richie Humphreys, beat keeper Dean Bouzanis but struck the upright low to his right.
The breakthrough came in the 17th minute after they were gifted a goal.
Goalkeeper Scott Flinders' short kick was intercepted by Matt Derbyshire who released Baxter (pictured) who raced clear to score into an empty net.
Cristian Montano was booked for kicking the ball into the net after being flagged for offside.
It was the winger's fifth yellow card of the season so he misses Saturday's home game against Shrewsbury Town.
Latics thought they had doubled their lead in the 39th minute, but Derbyshire had strayed offside.
Lee Croft's shot was parried by Flinders with Derbyshire firing home the rebound.
Hartlepool had a shout for a penalty rejected after Howard claimed he was shoved off the ball as he went for a header.
Dean Furman then shot narrowly wide after Baxter squared a free kick into his path.
Half-time: Hartlepool 0, Latics 1
The breakthrough came in the 17th minute after they were gifted a goal.
Goalkeeper Scott Flinders' short kick was intercepted by Matt Derbyshire who released Baxter (pictured) who raced clear to score into an empty net.
Cristian Montano was booked for kicking the ball into the net after being flagged for offside.
It was the winger's fifth yellow card of the season so he misses Saturday's home game against Shrewsbury Town.
Latics thought they had doubled their lead in the 39th minute, but Derbyshire had strayed offside.
Lee Croft's shot was parried by Flinders with Derbyshire firing home the rebound.
Hartlepool had a shout for a penalty rejected after Howard claimed he was shoved off the ball as he went for a header.
Dean Furman then shot narrowly wide after Baxter squared a free kick into his path.
Half-time: Hartlepool 0, Latics 1