Wigan Athletic 4 - 1 Southend United: Wigan emphatically beat Southend to all-but secure return to Championship

Posted Sunday, April 24, 2016 by PA

Goals from Chris McCann, Will Grigg (2) and Michael Jacobs gave Wigan Athletic a 4-1 victory over Southend - and all-but secured their promotion back to the Sky Bet Championship.

The Latics remain three points clear of second-placed Burton but, crucially, nine ahead of Walsall, the only other team that can overhaul them.

But with their vastly-superior goal difference effectively being worth a point, Gary Caldwell's men are there in all but name.

Their latest victory - their first in three matches - was arguably their most emphatic of the campaign.

After Jacobs had headed over an empty goal, McCann put Wigan ahead in the ninth minute before hitting the post moments later.

Grigg doubled the lead on 17 minutes after Yanic Wildschut had hit the same upright.

And the Northern Ireland striker made it 3-0 nine minutes before half-time - his 23rd league goal of the campaign, which sends him clear of Swindon's Nicky Ajose at the top of the goalscoring charts.

The impressive Jacobs got in on the act five minutes into the second period, for his second goal of the week.

Southend's scant consolation came with 16 minutes remaining, Latics skipper Craig Morgan putting through his own goal from close range.