Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan suffered their fifth defeat of the season and slipped to third in Division 2 in the process after a lacklustre display at London Road.

Peterborough ran out deserved winners as Latics failed to score for the second successive game. Second half goals from Rae and Williams sealed Posh's victory.

Wigan Athletic fell to their fifth defeat of the season at the hands of a well organised Peterborough United who were well worth their 2-0 victory at London Road leaving Latics in third place and out of the automatic promotion places.

The victory was Peterborough's first over Wigan in eleven attempts and the first time they have scored twice against them.

Wigan never really looked like troubling the home side and after today's performance many of the travelling Latics fans will be left wondering if they will ever see the First Division as you could be forgiven for wondering which team was struggling just above the relegation zone and which was fighting for promotion.

Andy Liddell was forced out wide on the right of midfield, a position that he doesn't really look suited to, with Simon Haworth and Neil Roberts partnering up front.

Stefan Bidstrup teamed up with recent signing Ged Brannan in the middle of the park and Brian McLaughlin took up the left midfield role with Bruce Rioch again favouring a 4-4-2 formation.

The first half saw little in the way of chances falling to either team but Peterborough enjoyed the better of the possession as the passed the ball around well and cleared their lines whenever Wigan did threaten an attack.

Peterborough's young keeper Stuart Taylor, in only his second game for the club since joining on loan last week from Arsenal, looked confident and he commanded his area well but was hardly troubled in a first half mainly played in the middle of the park.

Stillie was forced to tip the ball onto the roof of the net midway through the half as he was very nearly deceived by a looping goalward shot.

Wigan did however go close to scoring just before the break with a low shot but Taylor made a superb save diving full stretch to his left to tip the ball away.

Haworth saw a header go over the bar straight after the restart but it was Peterborough who took the lead in the 51st minute.

Former Nottingham Forest forward Jason Lee rose to meet a Martin Williams cross and headed the ball downwards with defender SIMON REA waiting to nod home for his first goal of the season and only his second ever in league football.

The goal should have kicked started Wigan into action but instead it was Peterborough who continued to press forward and only a couple of minutes later they almost doubled the advantage.

Jason Lee was again the provider but this time striker Leon McKenzie was the grateful recipient but despite beating Stillie his effort crept inches wide of the post.

McKenzie was replaced by leading scorer Andy Clarke on 65 minutes and within two minutes of the substitution they grabbed their second.

Peterborough won themselves a free kick thirty odd yards out and another loan signing, MARTIN WILLIAMS from Swindon Town, smashed a curling shot around the wall and into the back of the net with Stillie desperately diving to his left.

The game was all over as a contest from then on although Wigan did have a few half chances to narrow the deficit notably Andy Liddell's clear break on goal in the dying moments but his slight hesitancy allowed Peterborough to deny him from giving the Wigan fans a bit of consolation for the long trip home.

The mood of the travelling fans was summed up when, with five minutes or so remaining Neil Redfearn was pulled up by referee David Elleray for a late tackle from behind, they began shouting for his dismissal and booed when he didn't even get a yellow card. Sad I know but funny all the same.