Report by Dave Seddon - Wigan Evening Post

TWO quality pieces of finsihing from Andy Liddell and Roberto Martinez warmed Latics' hearts in ice-station Humberside.

Their goals brought John Benson's boys their first win on the road for seven weeks and moved them within 90 tantalising minutes of equalling the club's unbeaten League run of 21 games.

Liddell's volley on the turn before the interval was one of the most clinical examples of finishing you'll see in the penalty box this season.

And Martinez's late 25 yard winner brought a ray of Spanish sunshine to a freezing Glanford Park.

Scunthorpe may not be the most glamourous place on earth, but in terms of Latics' promotion push, this was an important place to collect three points.

Having drawn seven times away from home this season, a victory was vital with the chasing pack of Preston, Gillingham, Bristol Rovers and Burnley all hitting form at the moment. It is games like this, played in difficult conditions in the middle of winter, that tend to sort out the order of merit come the end of the season.

On Saturday, the temperatures plunged and sleet howled across the pitch.

So it'll be with some satisfaction that Latics will look back on the game, even if the display was still not up there with the best.

But there was some improvement from last week's performances against Burnley and Wycombe, and the debut of French winger Jeff Peron promised much.

Peron was named among the substitutes but made his bow after just 18 minutes, replacing Pat McGibbon in an early tactical switch.

The former Portsmouth man's arrival immediately gave the side a more balanced look, and on this showing, has the ability to run at defenders and deliver a quality cross.

At times this season Latics have been crying out for an option on the wing, and perhaps Peron is the short term answer.

"I thought Jeff was absolutely outstanding and he did everything I expected of him," commented manager Benson later.

"He took control of the game and I don't think he gave the ball away once."

Latics had lined up in a 3-4-3 formation, but the system clearly wasn't suiting them, and by the time of Peron's arrival, they were already behind.

The goal came after just seven minutes when former West Ham midfielder LEE HODGES picked up possession on the left wing, danced throughfour challenges on his way into the box before shooting past Roy Carroll from 10 yards.

An equaliser almost arrived in the 17th minute, Simon Haworth met Scott Green's cross with a header, but Lionel Perez made a diving save to keep it out.

Green was denied four minutes later when he burst into the box, played a one-two with Martinez, and hit a low shot which Perez deflected behind with an out-stretched foot.

Scunthorpe should have added to their lead in the 28th minute, when Cameroon striker Guy Ipoua raced clear of the defence, went round Carroll, but saw his shot from an acute angle cleared off the line by Stuart Balmer.

That was a big let-off for Latics, and they took full advantage by pulling level 10 minutes later.

Liddell saw a free kick from outside the area strike the top of the defensive wall and bounce out to Green on the right wing.

He delivered the ball back into the box, Stuart Barlow flicked it on, and LIDDELL screamed a volley beyond Perez into the far top corner.

The striker was the width of the woodwork away from grabbing a second deep into first half stoppage time.

Taking advantage of a poor clearance, he crashed in a shot from 10 yards which took a deflection off Richard Logan and struck the bar.

It was the home side's turn to be denied by the same piece of woodwork on the hour mark, when Justin Walker's rising shot from an acute angle beat Carroll, bounced off the bar, and dropped to safety.

As the second half went on, Latics started to really impose themselves on the game.

Haworth headed a cross form Martinez over the top, while Arjan de Zeeuw did the same after Peron had whipped a free kick into the box.

Peron came within inches of marking his debut with a goal after 75 minutes, cutting inside from the left wing and striking a shot across Perez and just past the far post.

Latics' winner arrived with six minutes left, and what a beauty it was too!

MARTINEZ collected a pass from Haworth 25 yards out, switched the ball on to his left foot, and spotting Perez slightly off his line, curled a shot over his out-stretched glove into the top corner.

It was a strike worthy of winning any game, and made up for the glaring miss by the Spaniard less than two minutes earlier when he failed to convert from close range.

Martinez was understandably delighted with the goal and said:"Simon laid the ball off, I saw the keeper was a bit far away from his post, and tried to put it into the top corner.

"It was a good goal but not one of my best. I scored some better ones in Spain, but this one was very important for Wigan."

Wise words Roberto, and if promotion celebrations follow in May, it will be a goal worth looking back on.