A collective poor performance by Wigan Athletic saw the first defeat under Uwe Rosler’s tenure as they were convincingly beaten by basement battlers Doncaster Rovers.

Rosler continued his policy of rotating the squad making six changes from the side which played 120 minutes in the midweek F.A.Cup victory over the MK Dons.

Nicky Maynard and Ty Browning were handed full debuts and there were recalls for Nick Powell, Beausejour, Boyce and Gomez.

Rosler sprang a surpise in the line up playing midfielder McCann at left back and the untried back line up was quickly breached when a Keegan cross found Brown in the box and his shot beat Al Habsi to give the home side the lead.

Wigan tried to hit back but with the honourable exception of Gomez lack the flair and creativity on the day to breach the home defence. Gomez supplied good balls to both Maynard and Powell, the former forcing a save from Turnbull and the latter putting an attempted lob over the bar.

At the other end Doncaster looked sharp belying their run of nine games without a win and with midfield dynamo Coppinger controlling the game, the home side grew in stature as the half progressed with that man Coppinger having a shot cleared off the line closely followed by a shot well saved by Al Habsi. 

The second half started in much the same vein, with Wigan seemingly incapable of producing any sustained pressure and the home side playing with a coinfidence at odds with their league position.

Doncaster doubled their lead, when Al Habsi blocked a Wellens shot but was unable to hold the ball and Coppinger hit a seemingly deflected shot past the keeper to increase the pressure on Wigan.

Any hope of Wigan getting back into the game was snuffed out shortly afterwards, when Browning was adjudged to have fouled Husband in the penalty area and Brown converted the spot kick to seal a well deserved victory.

Wigan continued to plug away in the hope of getting a consolation goal but one shot on target in the whole game summed up a wretched afternoon for the Latics, who will have to play much better if the aim of a play off place is to be realised this season.

Line Up

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