Dream start for new manager
New Latics' manager Lee Johnson enjoyed a dream opening half on his debut for the Boundary Park club.
Goals from Robbie Simpson (pictured) and Jean-Yves M'voto gave Latics a 2-0 interval lead in their home basement battle against Hartlepool United.
Goals from Robbie Simpson (pictured) and Jean-Yves M'voto gave Latics a 2-0 interval lead in their home basement battle against Hartlepool United.
Latics made a nervous start as Pools created three clear-cut chances inside the opening five minutes.
Steve Howard headed wide, Nathan Luscombe's goalbound shot was deflected off Jean-Yves M'voto for a corner from which Peter Hartley's header was well saved on the line by keeper Dean Bouzanis.
Latics had their first opening in the eighth minute when James Wesolowski made a forward burst setting up Jose Baxter whose drive forced a diving save from Scott Flinders.
Baxter brought another decent stop from Flinders not long after following another long-range strike.
Pools had another good chance when Howard's header flashed just wide of the upright from Jonathan Franks' cross.
Steve Howard headed wide, Nathan Luscombe's goalbound shot was deflected off Jean-Yves M'voto for a corner from which Peter Hartley's header was well saved on the line by keeper Dean Bouzanis.
Latics had their first opening in the eighth minute when James Wesolowski made a forward burst setting up Jose Baxter whose drive forced a diving save from Scott Flinders.
Baxter brought another decent stop from Flinders not long after following another long-range strike.
Pools had another good chance when Howard's header flashed just wide of the upright from Jonathan Franks' cross.
The breakthrough came in the 18th minute from Simpson.
Baxter fired over a hanging cross from the left which was met by Simpson who powered a header into the roof of the net from six yards for his fourth goal of the season.
Latics had a great chance to double their advantage midway through the half when Baxter put Lee Croft clean through, but Flinders pulled off a superb save.
A second goal came in the 27th minute from M'voto who also scored his fourth goal of the campaign.
Baxter's corner was cleared back to him on the left and, from his floated centre, M'voto headed high to the left of Flinders.
Latics came within a whisker of a third goal following a weak back pass from Hartley. Flinders cleared against Baxter the the rebound flew narrowly wide of an empty net.
Half-time: Latics 2, Hartlepool 0.
Baxter fired over a hanging cross from the left which was met by Simpson who powered a header into the roof of the net from six yards for his fourth goal of the season.
Latics had a great chance to double their advantage midway through the half when Baxter put Lee Croft clean through, but Flinders pulled off a superb save.
A second goal came in the 27th minute from M'voto who also scored his fourth goal of the campaign.
Baxter's corner was cleared back to him on the left and, from his floated centre, M'voto headed high to the left of Flinders.
Latics came within a whisker of a third goal following a weak back pass from Hartley. Flinders cleared against Baxter the the rebound flew narrowly wide of an empty net.
Half-time: Latics 2, Hartlepool 0.