Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan Athletic moved back into second spot in Division Two and kept up the pressure on league leaders Millwall ahead of next Saturday's big clash at the New Den.

A goal in each half from Andy Liddell were enough to secure the points in a generally one sided match at the JJB Stadium.

A goal in each half from Andy Liddell secured all three points in a virtually one sided game at the JJB Stadium and brought an end to Liddell's goal drought.

The result sees Wigan move back into second place in Division Two and two points clear of third place Walsall who were entertaining West Ham in the FA Cup.

Swansea came to the JJB with only one win from their last thirteen outings, struggling in the relegation zone and desperate for a result in their bid to avoid an early return back to Division Three.

Wigan, undefeated in the league at the JJB Stadium needed the points for an entirely different reason and a polished performance could have seen them running out with 5 or 6 goals.

Barely a minute had passed when Simon Haworth saw his effort crash against the bar when it seemed easier to score.

Latics then went all out on the attack with the ball hardly out of the Swansea half of the field.

Roberto Martinez saw his shot from the edge of the area fly over the bar in the 4th minute and 5 minutes later Andy Liddell received the ball from a throw in, turned and hit a low shot at goal but was easily collected by Welsh keeper Roger Freestone.

Within a minute Liddell was in action again when he beat the Swansea defence on the right side of the area but Freestone's legs blocked his attempt on goal.

In the 12th minute that man Liddell again, turned provider as he layed on Ashcroft who raced towards goal but his shot was tame to say the least and posed no problem for the keeper.

The main question on everybody's lips was not could Wigan win but by how many as attack after attack rained on the Swansea defence.

After 20 minutes Liddell did a neat little step over to leave the ball for Haworth just inside the area and his rocket of a shot was well blocked by the keeper.

Ian Kilford picked up the rebound just outside the area but saw his shot blocked by the defence.

Five minutes later Wigan found the net following a good move.

Scott Green chested the ball down to Liddell 20 yards out who slotted the ball through to Lee Ashcroft inside the area for him to bang it into the back of the net but the referee's assistant on the far side was flagging for an infringement and the goal was ruled out.

However Wigan didn't have to wait very long to hit the net again as two minutes later they took the lead. A Darren Sheridan throw in from the left found ANDY LIDDELL in space at the corner of the area, he turned cut in and blasted a low shot past the despairing Freestone into the far corner.

Swansea's first attempt on goal came in the 34th minute when French midfielder David Romo had a go from 30 yards out but his shot went well wide of the right post.

A minute later Stillie was actually called into action when he brought off a good save from Steve Watkin at close range.

Seconds later the action was at the other end of the field again as Wigan won a corner.

The kick caused confusion amongst the Swansea defenders and the ball fell to Ashcroft but his volley crashed against the bar.

Simon Haworth sent his volley just wide of the left post after he received the ball from a free kick in the 39th minute as Wigan were all over Swansea like a rash.

HALF TIME: Wigan 1 Swansea 0

Swansea cam out for the second half with a little more determination as they chased the game but never really threatened Derek Stillie in the Wigan goal.

After 58 minutes however Simon Haworth went close to stretching Wigan's lead with a diving header which Freestone did well to save.

Kilford was denied by the Swansea defence as he tried to get onto the end of a Scott Green pass across the goalmouth in the 67th minute.

Latics got the killer strike in the 72nd minute after Lee Ashcroft got the ball in midfield and punted a long ball upfield to ANDY LIDDELL who ran forward outpacing the defence and hit a low shot past Freestone from just ouside the area for his 9th goal of the season.

Swansea had a rare attack in the 74th minute when Stuart Roberts beat the Wigan defence down the right wing but his shot didn't have the determination that his run had and Stillie had no difficulty in collecting.

They had another shot at goal in the 80th minute with defender Mike Howard having a crack from 30 yards out but sent the ball sailing over the bar.

Liddell set up Green on the edge of the Swansea penalty area 2 minutes later but he failed to control the ball properly and was dispossessed by the defence.

Swansea's Nick Cusack hit a low shot at goal in the 83rd minute which went straight at Stillie and a minute later earned himself a yellow card after clashing with Darren Sheridan who was also penalised.

The game seemed to be fizzling out when Swansea defender Jason Smith made what looked like a rash challenge from behind on Liddell and was shown the red card by referee Trevor Jones.

Andy Liddell later admitted that he was very surprised that Smith had been sent off as he didn't think that the foul warranted it.

As the game neared it's conclusion Liddell should have got his first hat trick for the club when Freestone made a mistake on the edge of his area allowing Kilford to take the ball from him and passed to Liddell who had an empty net to aim at but he took too much time on the ball and the Swansea defence closed on him.

FULL TIME: Wigan 2 Swansea 0

The result must have been a huge relief for Bruce Rioch after coming under fire from sections of the crowd following disappointing results over the Festive period.

However, Wigan are second and only a point separates them from Millwall at the top so who can complain. Bring on Millwall and hopefully Wigan will return to the top of the league at 4.50pm next Saturday.