Wigan 3-0 Blackburn: Owen Coyle endures nightmare return to former club

By PA Sport

Saturday 13 August 2016 17:52, UK

Owen Coyle endured a miserable return to the DW Stadium as Wigan Athletic beat his Blackburn side 3-0 to record their first win of the season in the Sky Bet Championship.

Coyle was sacked by Wigan three seasons ago, less than four months after succeeding Roberto Martinez.

And his afternoon was every bit as miserable as the tail end of his regime, with the Rovers supporters venting their anger long before the final whistle.

The first half was one-sided, with the only surprise being that Wigan were only two goals ahead at the break. Will Grigg opened the scoring on 14 minutes with his second of the season from close range after Max Power had dragged a shot into his path.

Nick Powell doubled the lead on 33 minutes with a magnificent free-kick into the top corner from 20 yards after Power had been fouled.

Alex Gilbey, Grigg and Yanic Wildschut also came close to further goals with the Blackburn defence being repeatedly run ragged.

Gilbey somehow fired wide from close range, Grigg saw another effort fly just past the post, while Wildschut was only denied by a last-gasp foot in from centre-back Gordon Greer.

The visitors improved for the start of the second period and the first 15 minutes after the restart was all Blackburn - aided by some shaky Wigan defending.

Jack Byrne was unlucky to see a right-footed curler from the edge of the area loop over Adam Bogdan only to bounce off the top of the bar and after Bogdan failed to deal with a cross from the right, Shane Duffy lashed goalwards only for Dan Burn to produce a superb block.

Anthony Stokes headed just wide from another corner, but Wigan managed to kill off the game with a third goal on 62 minutes.

Power's cross from the right evaded substitute Michael Jacobs at the near post, but Duffy could only bundle the ball home in comedic fashion as both he and the ball ended up in the net.

Wigan took the opportunity to rest Grigg in the final quarter, with Craig Davies coming on for a rare appearance, but Rovers were unable to muster even a consolation.

Ben Marshall did have a late sight of goal, but shot straight at Bogdan.

Michael Jacobs nearly applied further salt to the Blackburn wounds in stoppage-time, toeing just past the far post.