Ten-man Bristol Rovers suffered their first defeat at The Memorial Stadium in Sky Bet League One this season after losing 4-0 to Wigan Athletic.
Despite Rovers getting chances to score in the early stages, the Latics led 2-0 at half-time after a brace from Joe Hugill. The striker netted two instinctive goals, slotting in from close range after the hosts failed to deal with a corner on both occasions.
Thelo Assgaard then made the most of a mistake from Josh Griffiths to add a third goal after the break, with Luke Chambers completing the scoring with a clever free-kick.
The Gas struggled to creating anything in the second half and went a man down in the final stages after Taylor Moore was shown a straight red card.
Lino Sousa was making his first league start for Rovers in the third tier and caused an early problem for the visitors. Taylor Moore met his inviting corner, but his downward header bounced just wide of the post.
The Gas started confidently, controlling the possession and tempo of the contest. However, Wigan posed a threat on the break and forced Griffiths into a good save in the early stages.
Jensen Weir raced unchallenged and rolled a pass down the right side of the box to Dion Rankine, with his driving effort pushed away by the goalkeeper.
Matt Taylor’s men then went close through a familiar combination. Moore was the target for another corner, with the centre-back flicking the ball towards James Wilson, but he lashed his strike over.
Chances kept coming at either end in an open game. Weir's first-time effort from just inside the box deflected just wide of the post before the Latics took the lead from the following corner.
Jason Kerr's close-range header from Chambers’ cross was parried before Hugill slotted in the rebound.
The Gas responded well and continued to put Wigan under pressure, but Wigan doubled their lead before the break. The hosts failed to clear a corner, with Hugill and Weir having shots saved before the Manchester United loanee stabbed in his second goal.
Shaun Maloney’s side almost scored again after a quick counter, but Aasgaard was denied by Griffiths before Weir fired his strike over.
The Gas made two changes at the break, with Scott Sinclair and Connor Taylor coming on, but soon went three goals behind. Griffiths fumbled Silko Thomas' low cross, allowing Aasgaard to roll his shot into an empty net.
Shaq Forde and Jamie Lindsay were added off the bench on the hour mark, adding fresh legs to the side. Luke Thomas looked to get one back for the Gas and drove forward with the ball before lashing his shot wide.
Instead, the Latics scored again. Chambers was over a free-kick from a wide position, whipping his low strike into the bottom-right corner.
Rovers struggled to test Sam Tickle and went down to ten men in the final period of the contest after Moore was shown a straight red card.
Bristol Rovers: Griffiths, Sousa (Taylor 46), Moore, Wilson, Mola, Omochere (O’Donkor 69), Sotiriou (Forde 61), Thomas, Garrett (Lindsay 61), Hutchinson (Sinclair 46), Conteh
Subs not used: McCormick, Bilongo
Sent off: Moore 85
Wigan Athletic: Tickle, Chambers, Aimson, Weir, Rankine (McManaman 66), Smith (Adeeko 75), Hugill, Aasgaard, Kerr, Carragher (Ramsay 80), Thomas (Asamoah 76).
Subs not used: Watson, Sibbick, Taylor
Goals: Hugill 20, 40, Aasgaard 50, Chambers 71
Booked: Aasgaard 43
Referee: Scott Jackson
Attendance: 7,925 (464 away)
