Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan missed the chance to go top of Division 2 after their 4th defeat of the season at the hands of Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.

A goal in each half from Cooke and Thorne secured the points for Stoke.

Just to rub salt into the wound Darren Sheridan was sent off for alleged use of the elbow.

Wigan Athletic slipped to third place in Division Two after this defeat and the 3 points Stoke City picked up has put them in the driving seat in the race for promotion.

Latics started the game brightly enough and enjoyed a large amount of possession but were unable to turn their chances into goals.

Darren Sheridan forced Stoke keeper into making a fine save and Andy Liddell went close with a 35 yarder.

Kevin Nicholls tested the keeper on 17 minutes as Wigan charged forward but a minute later, against the run of play, it was Stoke who took the lead.

Stoke's veteran defender, former England international Tony Dorigo sent a cross over to the edge of the Wigan penalty area and ANDY COOKE raced onto it and hit a low shot past Derek Stillie and into the far corner.

Wigan continued to attack looking for the equaliser but still couldn't find a way through a solid Stoke defence. Darren Sheridan nearly set striker Lee Ashcroft up after sending a dangerous ball into the area but Stoke defender Brinjar Gunnarsson was slightly quicker and cleared the danger.

Stoke City replied with Mikael Hansson racing down the right flank. The Swede crossed into the area and found James O'Connnor but a good tackle from Kevin Nicholls denied the Irishman.

Nicholls had the crowd on their feet on 37 minutes when he sent a free kick from 20 yards out curling towards the top right hand corner of the goal but Kristinsson somehow managed to get to the ball, punching clear.

HALF TIME: Stoke 1 Wigan 0

Wigan came out for the second half chasing the game but their task wasn't made any easier when Darren Sheridan became the second Wigan player within a fortnight to be given his marching orders.

He appeared to have lashed out with his elbow at Bjarni Gudjonnson an act which the former Barnsley midfielder denies.

From then on in any chance of recovering amything out of the game was always going to be an uphill struggle as the home side turned up the heat.

Gudjonnson had a crack at goal and Peter Thorne should have done better when he headed over.

Their efforts paid off on the hour mark when a defensive blunder from Gino Padula allowed PETER THORNE in to double their lead, sending a low drive past the despairing Stillie and into the bottom corner.

Wigan did have a chance of grabbing a consolation goal on 71 minutes when Andy Liddell crossed to the far post, finding Ian Kilford in space but his shot from close range was superbly saved by the Stoke keeper.

FULL TIME: Stoke 2 Wigan 0