Latics out of the bottom four
Latics moved out of the relegation placed following their convincing 3-0 victory in their home npower League One basement battle against Hartlepool United.
Goals from Robbie Simpson, Jean-Yves M'voto and Jose Baxter made it the perfect start for new Latics' manager Lee Johnson.
It was also a massive victory for Latics in their bid to preserve their League One status.
Latics, 2-0 ahead at the break, had a chance to add a third goal soon after the restart but Lee Barnard shot just over.
Goals from Robbie Simpson, Jean-Yves M'voto and Jose Baxter made it the perfect start for new Latics' manager Lee Johnson.
It was also a massive victory for Latics in their bid to preserve their League One status.
Latics, 2-0 ahead at the break, had a chance to add a third goal soon after the restart but Lee Barnard shot just over.
Pools had a great chance to halve the deficit midway through the half but Andy Monkhouse dragged his shot wide from a Jonathan Franks cross.
The visitors had another chance when Antony Sweeney headed not far over from a Franks corner.
Latics put the game to bed with 20 minutes left when Baxter added a third goal for Latics.
The ball rebounded to Baxter off a Pools player and he fired a terrific drive low to the left of keeper Scott Flinders for his 13th goal of the campaign.
Latics made their first substitution in thr 71st minute when Lee Croft was replaced by Kirk Millar.
Pools almost got on to the scoresheet when Sam Collins headed narrowly wide from a Simon Walton free kick.
There was a second switch for Latics with 10 minutes left when Jordan Obita took over from Simpson and soon after the third and final one as Chris Iwelumo replaced Barnard.
Millar had a chance in stoppage time to add a fourth goal, but his drive cleared the crossbar.
Full-time: Latics 3, Hartlepool United 0.
Millar had a chance in stoppage time to add a fourth goal, but his drive cleared the crossbar.
Full-time: Latics 3, Hartlepool United 0.