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While the fans will be even happier as the result was the second victory of the season over local rivals Bolton Wanderers.
A change of formation was in order for the game with a new shape being adopted in midfield.
Taylor, Jackson, De Zeeuw and Baines made up the back four, whilst the midfield consisted of Johansson, Kavanagh and Francis, with Mahon seemingly playing slightly to the right, but further forward than the other three.
McCulloch partnered JR up front.
The system helped the side deal with the long ball system that Bolton employ, but left the Latics with little width going forward.
Highlights of the game for Bolton included an international quality save from Mike Pollitt to deny Kevin Nolan from close range, and a well missed change by the Bolton front line after poor defending by the Latics defence from the set play.
While for the Latics, Jason Roberts took both goals very well. The first came after some superb football from the Latics, Johansson kept his nerve in the penalty box and fed Roberts who skipped round his defender and planted a shot into the corner of the net past Jaaskalainen.
His second goal offered as much to awful defending as good attacking play. Mahon over-ran the ball on the break, but managed to get a foot into the challenge, as the ball spun loose, Jaidi mis-judged the bounce and Roberts pounced, sliding the one-on-one past a helpless Jaaskalainen.
Bolton did little else to trouble the Latics, and the result never really looked in doubt. Paul Jewell's men where far superior in every department of the pitch with each player out performing his opposite number.
A display that will no doubt please the manager and equally the fans, who will be delighted that club will grace the semi-final of the Carling Cup for the first time in their history.
Congratulations Latics!
It's also worth remembering that the Carling Cup is a route to Europe. Oh hang on a minute... that doesn't matter, we're top six in the Premeirship anyway!
What a Christmas it will be for Latics fans across town!
Player Ratings
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Ryan Taylor - 7
Leighton Baines - 8 (Baines for England)
Matt Jackson - 7
Arjan De Zeeuw - 7
Alan Mahon - 7
Lee McCulloch - 7
Graham Kavanagh - 7
Damien Francis - 7
Andreas Johansson - 7
Jason Roberts - 8 - M.O.T.M
Subs
Pascal Chimbonda (for Taylor 85) - 6
Gary Teale (for Mahon 69) - 7
Henri Camara (for Johansson 69) - 6
For a match report of the game, click here.
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