LATICS put a turbulent week behind them with a comprehensive victory at Valley Parade last night.

A Sam Surridge brace, together with first strikes for the club from Callum Lang and Mohamed Maouche, saw Athletic net four goals away from home for the first time since Richie Wellens’ first official game as full-time manager in the 4-4 draw at MK Dons on October 21, last year.

It may have only been the Checkatrade Trophy . . . with only a handful of spectators there to witness it – but this win, another away triumph to keep the unbeaten run going on the road – would have done wonders for Frankie Bunn and his troops.

The Latics boss had asked for a response after Saturday’s woeful showing – and though he made changes to the line-up, a response is exactly what was delivered. Athletic raced into a two-goal lead after 26 minutes.

First, Callum Lang – restored to the starting line-up – finished off a decent move involving Maouche and Surridge with only 10 minutes gone.

Maouche himself opened his Latics’ goalscoring account on 26 minutes with a neat finish from Chris O’Grady’s pass after Dan Gardner saw his shot deflected. Latics, dominating proceedings, were pegged back immediately after the restart when Kai Bruenker nodded past De La Paz from a corner.

If that was to act as a warning, no-one told Surridge. First, he was teed up beautifully by O’Grady who turned his man before delivering an inch-perfect cross onto his strike partner’s head to make it 3-1 on 57 minutes.

There was still time for things to get even better when Surridge bagged his second of the game – and ninth for the season in all competitions – with 13 minutes remaining.

O’Grady again turned provider – his third assist of the evening – feeding the on-loan Bournemouth man who fired past Richard O’Donnell in the Bantams’ goal.

Yes it’s only the Checkatrade Trophy . . . but a 4-1 win away from home against albeit weakened LeagueOne opposition – and £10,000 prize money – is not to be sneezed at.

LATICS (4-4-2): De La Paz, Hamer, Edmundson, Clarke, Taylor (Hunt 29); Lyden (Baxter 46), Gardner (Missilou 71), Maouche, Lang, O’Grady, Surridge. Subs (not used): MacFarlane, Branger-Engone, Benteke, Graham. STAR MAN: Sam Surridge.

BRADFORD: O’Donnell, Payne, Seedorf (Riley 76), Bruenker, Knight-Percival, Isherwood, Gibson, Staunton, Goldthorp, Ball (Jones 82), Wright (Ellington 86). Subs (not used): Skyes-Kenworthy, Maltby, Milambo, Birchall.

Attendance: 1,015