Old-boy Grabban sinks Latics
Latics were undone by their former loan player Lewis Grabban as they suffered a 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth in npower League One.
Grabban grabbed a 19-minute second-half hat trick as the Cherries extended their unbeaten run to eight games since Eddie Howe returned as manager.
All Latics had to show for their efforts was a late consolation goal from substitute Matt Smith (pictured) after a hugely disappointing afternoon.
Grabban grabbed a 19-minute second-half hat trick as the Cherries extended their unbeaten run to eight games since Eddie Howe returned as manager.
All Latics had to show for their efforts was a late consolation goal from substitute Matt Smith (pictured) after a hugely disappointing afternoon.
After a goalless opening period, the first time either keeper was called into action came in the 49th minute when Dean Bouzanis dived low to his left to keep out a shot on the turn from Josh McQuoid.
The breakthrough came four minutes later when Harry Arter's shot was going wide only for it to fall to Grabaan who diverted it into the roof of the net.
And barely 60 seconds later Grabban doubled the Cheries' lead.
This time McQuoid fired over a loss cross from the right and Grabban got a touch as the ball flew low past Bouzanis into the far corner.
Latics made a double change in the 58th minute as Robbie Simpson and Lee Croft were replaced by Smith and scholar Chris Sutherland.
The afternoon got worse for Latics when they conceded a penalty following Jean-Yves M'voto's foul on Arter.
Arter stepped forward to take the spot kick which was brilliantly saved by Bouzanis low to his left.
Sadly for Latics, Grabban reacted quickest to fire in the rebound to complete his hat trick.
Latics made their last change with 13 minutes left when Youssouf M'Changama was replaced by Carl Winchester.
Bournemouth added a fourth goal in the 82nd minute when left-back Charlie Daniels was left unmarked at the far post to head a Pugh free kick into the roof of the net.
Latics pulled a goal back in the 86th minute when Smith found the net with an excellent far-post header from a Sunderland cross.
Full-time: Bournemouth 4, Latics 1.
The breakthrough came four minutes later when Harry Arter's shot was going wide only for it to fall to Grabaan who diverted it into the roof of the net.
And barely 60 seconds later Grabban doubled the Cheries' lead.
This time McQuoid fired over a loss cross from the right and Grabban got a touch as the ball flew low past Bouzanis into the far corner.
Latics made a double change in the 58th minute as Robbie Simpson and Lee Croft were replaced by Smith and scholar Chris Sutherland.
The afternoon got worse for Latics when they conceded a penalty following Jean-Yves M'voto's foul on Arter.
Arter stepped forward to take the spot kick which was brilliantly saved by Bouzanis low to his left.
Sadly for Latics, Grabban reacted quickest to fire in the rebound to complete his hat trick.
Latics made their last change with 13 minutes left when Youssouf M'Changama was replaced by Carl Winchester.
Bournemouth added a fourth goal in the 82nd minute when left-back Charlie Daniels was left unmarked at the far post to head a Pugh free kick into the roof of the net.
Latics pulled a goal back in the 86th minute when Smith found the net with an excellent far-post header from a Sunderland cross.
Full-time: Bournemouth 4, Latics 1.