DAVE Artell blasted the "amateur" officials who failed to rule out Wigan's opening strike from Josh Magennis.

Headed goals either side of the interval from Magennis and Will Keane undid Crewe's first-half promise at the Mornflake Stadium as they fell to an unhappy 11th defeat in 12 games.

But the Crewe boss was livid his battling players were let down by a key decision. Magennis looked offside having moved quickly onto Max Power's 43rd-minute arced free kick and the Northern Irish striker had plenty of space to thump a header home.

"It wasn't even close," said Artell. "Magennis is an international striker and he is four yards offside. It was not a hard decision, but you get joke officials every week. Until they go professional I'll keep saying it – it's a professional sport run by amateurs.

"Wigan are side full of experience and we've got lads starting their careers in the game, but we gave a good account of ourselves.

"However, the first goal is crucial and it went against us."

Bassala Sambou was the only change Artell made from the side losing at Sunderland at the weekend. Whereas they'd spent much of that game at the Stadium of the Light mounting a rearguard action tonight there were plenty of promising advances into opposition territory, although the first-half was also dogged by some dull long-ball football from both sides.

Callum Ainley forced Ben Amos to tip over a well-struck drive and Chris Long kept the visiting keeper busy.

Until Magennis' opener (43) Dave Richards had only been tested by an early blast by Latics skipper Tendayi Dariwka.

Yet Crewe looked frail in the air when Joe Bennett hung over a cross from left and Keane rose to power a header into the top corner (53).

That was more or less it as far as a contest went. Wigan closed out the game and the victory which keeps them on the coat tails of leaders Rotherham with games in hand, with wingback Darikwa close to adding a third with two efforts in succession blocked in the closing minutes.

Wigan boss Leam Richardson said: "We had to respect Crewe as they are fighting for their lives. We had to match their endeavour and running and then hope that our quality would come to the fore and it did."

Crewe: Richards 7; Offord 7, O'Riordan 6, Williams 7 (Griffiths); Lundstram 6 (Porter), Lowery 7, Harper 6(Murphy), Ainley 6, Johnson 6; Sambou 5, Long 6.