That win had been coming - Wigan Athletic boss

Latics smashed a five-game winless sequence in style at the Keepmoat to move to within one point of safety with six games to go.

Goals from Joe Dodoo, Thelo Aasgaard, Viv Solomon-Otabor and Will Keane meant Taylor Richards' reply wasn't even scant consolation.

And having consistently claimed his side were playing better than their results suggested, Richardson felt vindicated after they finally got back in the winners' enclosure.

"I think the performance levels have been there for the last few weeks," he said.

"We've spoken about the fact we've been creating the third-best quality of chances in the league, as well as conceding the second-lowest quality of chances.

"It proved we were doing something right, and thankfully today - for once - the result matched the performance.

"It's about belief, and it's about doing the right things, and keeping the right habits.

"We've had a challenge as a group for a while now which is to stay in this division.

"Thankfully we're still in the fight, and we're still representing the club, the town and the fans in the best way we know.

"That's all you can ask for, and the lads are giving me everything they have.

"We worked a lot in the week on breaking on them, and it worked to a tee on the day."

Latics never looked back after taking the lead inside three minutes through Dodoo, who was restored to the side in place of Jamie Proctor.

"Joe's had to bide his time and wait for his chance," acknowledged Richardson.

"And I thought the response from him, the energy levels, was fantastic - and it filtered throughout the team.

"As a manager or a coach, and you're looking through the team, and you're struggling to pick a man of the match - in a good way - that's one of the best feelings.

"Even at the end, the lads were continuing to push forward , looking for more goals, they were obviously enjoying themselves

"We don't like to see games out comfortably, we saw that by conceding the goal right on half-time to make it 3-1.

"With us being still a new group, you're never sure how they're going to react to something like that, on an emotional level.

"Thankfully we have a mature spine to the team, with Jamie (Jones) in goal, Curtis (Tilt) at centre-back, Lee (Evans) in midfield and Will and Joe up top.

"And that's what you expect them to do when called upon, whether it's coming up with a big save, a big tackle, a big assist or a big goal.

"The positive for me was the lads stayed focused and positive in that second half.

"They stayed on the front foot, and believed enough to be able to score again and make the game safe."

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