Latics go in at the break three goals down as Peterborough United give the home side a lesson in finishing
Lee Johnson had named an attacking line-up for the game against Posh at Boundary Park, with Korey Smith moving to right back allowing David Worrall to take his place in the starting line-up for the first time since his arrival on loan from Rotherham United.
Latics should have taken the lead as early as the first minute as Charlie MacDonald blazed well over after Gary Harkins had ridden three challenges before playing in a neat pass to MacDonald. Worrall was soon in the thick of the action, his cross a minute later diverted for the first corner of the match. Posh clearing the ball in from James Dayton with ease.
GOAL 0-1 - After being pegged back in their own half, Posh took the lead in their first foray forward on 5 minutes. Top scorer Britt Assombalonga heading home a delightful cross from Nicky Ajose, who had found space on the right.
Harkins again caused the visitors defence problems with another mazy run on 12 minutes, his right foot effort from the edge of the box blocked Nat Knight-Percival, the loose ball falling behind MacDonald.
Another swift counter from Posh almost gave them a two goal lead. Another break down the right by Ajose saw him feed Danny Swanson, with only a superb block from Genserix Kusunga stopping his neat side foot effort finding the net.
Latics were still pushing forward at every opportunity, Harkins finding space for those around him, but the visitors were looking dangerous with their swift counter attacks. Swanson wasting a great chance on 22 minutes after Lee Tomlin had created the chance with a neat turn and cross on the left.
GOAL 0-2 - Posh skipper Tommy Rowe rose unchallenged to head home from the visitors second corner kick of the game.
James Dayton was the next to see an effort charged down, his drive from the left side of the box, after Smith's diagonal free kick, being blocked in the six yard box.
Assombalonga was lucky to escape a yellow card on the half hour, his late lunge on Mark Oxley going unpunished by referee Clark.
With ten minutes to play before the break, Johnson made a double substitution, Jonson Clarke-Harris and Connor Brown replacing Danny Philliskirk and James
Dayton. Brown dropping in at right back with Smith returning to his customary midfield role.
The substitutions lifted the team immediately as Latics forced two corners in quick succession, but yet again Posh caught them out with another counter attack, Oxley forced to tip Tomlin's effort over for a corner kick.
GOAL 0-3 - It became a real struggle for Latics right on half time as Tomlin took advantage of hesitancy in the home sides backline to slot home.
HT: Latics 0 Peterborough United 3
Latics: Oxley, Grounds, Wesolowski, Kusunga, Tarkowski, Smith, MacDonald, Dayton (Brown), Philliskirk (Clarke-Harris), Worrall, Harkins.
Unused Subs: Rachubka, Mellor, Winchester, Rodgers, Lockwood.