RICHIE Wellens extended his 100 per cent record in caretaker charge to four games with a last-gasp strike from substitute Queensy Menig handing Latics all three points in a drama-filled derby.

The flying Dutchman, thrown on with 20 minutes left, hadn’t threatened until he struck with less than a minute to go, drilling an Eoin Doyle through ball low into the corner to raise the roof at Boundary Park. It was nothing less than the hard-working home side deserved.

Wellens is now the only Latics manager in history to have won his first four games.

It’s an astonishing 24 years since Latics last met Blackburn in a league encounter.

That was in the Premier League. Back in December, 1993, Mr Blobby was top of the charts and Joe Royle’s yard dogs were mid-way through their third campaign in the top flight. They would be relegated to the Championship (not that it was called that then) that season. Rovers went on to win it a year later. How times have changed.

Athletic never really recovered after that, tumbling still further to League One, where they remain and have done so since 1996. The Spice Girls’ “Wannabe” was number one then, incidentally.

I’ll tell you want Richie Wellens wants, what he really, really wants . . . is the Latics job. And Latics chairman Simon Corney should really, really, really, give it him now.

Writing in his programme notes for today’s game, chief executive Mark Moisley said interviews had now been concluded and an announcement would be made next week. About time.

And as for continued speculation regarding potential new investor Abdallah Lemsagam, the club remain tight-lipped. No change there.

For now at least, as Liam Gallagher’s debut album shot to number one this week, it’s as you were.

Latics, bidding for a fourth straight victory since Wellens took caretaker charge, began this old-fashioned Lancashire derby clash with plenty of vigour, dominating possession while looking dangerous going forward.

Aside from a couple of long-range sighters from the visitors, Johny Placide wasn’t tested in the home goal until the 27th minute when Elliott Bennett, clean through, rounded the Latics number one but could only find the side netting with the goal gaping. It was a real let off.

Before that, Athletic had carved out the most clear cut chances. Gevaro Nepomuceno firing just over from the left corner of the box and Eoin Doyle shooting straight at ’keeper David Raya after linking well with Craig Davies.

In a good, eye-catching contest, Blackburn – backed by a capacity away following in the Chaddy End – came more into it before a couple of efforts from Doyle went close with half time approaching.

Davies warmed the hands of Raya as Latics continued on the front foot at the start of the second half. Jack Byrne, busy and inventive in his attacking midfield role as ever, fancied his chances with a long range drive which whistled wide of the post.

Wellens was kicking every ball in his mind as he wore out the turf in the technical area, urging his team on.

Peter Whittingham smashed an effort against the crossbar shortly before that as this lively encounter played out in front of a raucous Boundary Park crowd, swung from end to end.

Richie Smallwood was a tad fortunate to escape further punishment when he was booked for a crude challenge on Byrne on the hour mark as the derby feistiness cranked up a notch. More tasty challenges, and cards, would follow.

Then came Menig's moment of magic.

Latics: (4-4-2) Placide, Dummigan, Bryan, Clarke, Hunt; Gardner (Omrani 87), Fane, Byrne, Nepomuceno (Menig 67); Davies, Doyle (Gerrard 90). Subs (not used): Ruddy, Brian Wilson, Flynn, Obadeyi.

Booked: Dummigan.

Blackburn: (4-4-2) Raya, Mulgrew, Ward, Caddis, Williams; Smallwood (Dack 68), Bennett, Whittingham, Conway (Graham 57); Antonsson (Chapman 57), Samuel. Subs (not used): Leutwiler, Nyambe, Harper, Gladwin.

Booked: Smallwood, Whittingham, Chapman, Dack.

Attendance: 7,784.