MILTON KEYNES DONS 7, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0.
How can the fortunes of a team, which was doing so well, plummet so quickly?
That has to be asked after Latics lost 7-0 at Milton Keynes Dons, their heaviest loss in over 12 years.
It is the first time Latics have shipped seven goals since Cardiff City won 7-1 at Boundary Park in 2002.
And it could conceivably have been double figures at stadiummk where Latics had another horror show – it is now five defeats and two draws in their last seven visits.
Yet before three defeats in a row, Latics had suffered only one loss in three and a half months as they mounted a serious challenge for promotion.
Something has clearly gone awry, though the absence of team captain and midfield mainstay is a massive blow as, without him, they are rudderless in midfield.
While Latics were awful, MK Dons were rampant as they had six different goalscorers. Will Grigg scored two while the others came from Dean Bowditch, Darren Potter, Dele Alli, Benik Afobe and Carl Baker.
Grigg, Potter and Baker had chances in the opening 13 minutes as the warning signs were evident even at that early stage.
The breakthrough came in the 16th minute when keeper Paddy Kenny picked up a Brian Wilson back pass as he conceded an indirect free kick inside the box. Jordan Spence laid the ball back to Grigg who fired through the non-existent defensive wall.
Grigg and Bowditch went close as Dons looked to build on their advantage.
Latics had a little flurry of activity as Mike Jones and Jonathan Forte had chances, keeper David Martin denying the latter.
Just as it looked as though Latics were getting a foothold back into the game, they conceded a second goal just before the break as Spence crossed from the right and Bowditch slid in to score.
And they were fortunate not to concede a third on the stroke of half time when Genseric Kusunga made a last-gasp tackle to deny Grigg.
George Elokobi came on for the second half to replace the injured Joseph Mills.
Latics made a wretched start to the second half as they found themselves 4-0 down within six minutes of the restart as Grigg and Potter both fired home past Kenny.
Forte had a shot well saved by Martin and Mike Jones grazed the woodwork as Latics looked to save face as they also brought on Michael Tidser and Jabo Ibehre.
Dons remained rampant as Bowditch went close before Alli added a fifth goal in the 77th minute.
Substitute Afobe headed in the sixth and Baker fired in a seventh in the last minute to round off another thoroughly miserable day.