Crewe Alexandra 3 Wigan Athletic 0

Indeed, had it not been for the heroics of Jamie Jones, Latics could easily have lost by a few more.

The visitors had actually started the brighter, and almost took the lead in bizarre fashion inside 10 minutes.

Crewe’s Charlie Kirk challenged Gavin Massey 25 yards from goal, with the ball taking a wicked deflection towards the home goal, and only a desperate fingertip save from Dave Richards spared the blushes of his team-mate.

From the resulting corner, Kal Naismith had a shooting opportunity, but could only scoop the ball over the bar.

After that, it was pretty much one-way traffic as Crewe gained a stranglehold on the game which they never relinquished.

Only a fantastic double save from Jones denied Perry Ng and ex-Latic Donervon Daniels, with the goalkeeper then preventing Mikael Mandron and Daniel Powell from opening the scoring.

Unfortunately, the goal that had been coming duly arrived on 27 minutes, with Luke Offord heading home from close range.

After Mandron sent a free header straight at Jones, Crewe doubled their lead five minutes before half-time when Harry Pickering latched on to a ball inside Tom James, and fired into the back of the net.

Mandron made it 3-0 on the hour mark, when he was the quickest to react after Jones had made two fine saves.

And Latics were even denied a late consolation when Lee Evans' mis-hit shot was turned in by Olly Crankshaw, whose celebrations were halted by the offside flag.