Report by John Patrick Heeley

Stuart Balmer's first goal of the season was enough to secure all 3 points at Gigg Lane and move Wigan up to 4th place in Division Two.

Wigan dominated the game in large parts and were well worthy of the victory on a pitch more suited to camel racing. Dalglish saw red for the second time in 3 days.

Wigan Athletic are now within touching distance of a play-off spot thanks to a 48th minute goal from defender Stuart Balmer.

The victory which moved Latics upto 4th place was marred however by the dismissal of Paul Dalglish, his second red card in three days.

That now means that the midfielder's season will be over after next weekend's visit of Rotherham United as he faces the prospect of a seven match ban.

Wigan were good value for the three points and the scoreline flattered the home side as Latics could have scored a lot more.

The playing surface played a big part in the game with very little grass visible down the middle of the field and also very uneven.

Steve Bruce fielded an almost unchanged squad to the one that had tasted victory over Oxford United on Saturday.

Kevin Nicholls was brought into the starting line up at the expense of Ged Brannan who took his place on the bench.

Bruce again opted for a three man strike force and is choice seemed to work wonders as Wigan were all over Bury for large parts of the game.

Boths sides found it difficult to control the ball on the lumpy pitch and one touch football was almost non-existant with the ball bobbling all over the place.

Wigan's first real chance of the game came shortly after the half hour mark when Lee McCulloch set up Paul Dalglish whose shot on goal brought out a fine save from Bury keeper Paddy Kenny, forcing the ball behind for a corner kick.

On 39 minutes it was McCulloch's turn to test Kenny when he turned his marker and found himself clear one on one with the keeper but he sent his effort across the face of the goal and wide of the far post.

Wigan seemed to step up a gear in the second half and were in front within three minutes of the restart.

A Kevin Nicholls corner was nodded on by Simon Haworth and STUART BALMER pounced to rattle the ball home off the underside of the bar for his first goal this season and his first since November 1999 when he scored a 61st minute winner against Wycombe Wanderers at the JJB Stadium.

The Scot had further cause to celebrate as the game was also his 100th league appearance in a Wigan shirt.

Simon Haworth went close to doubling the lead minutes later but his weak effort went straight at the keeper and with an hour of the game gone found himself clear on goal with only Kenny to beat after he collected Nicholls' long clearance upfield.

However, the state of the pitch hindered his shot and it was blocked by Kenny's outstretched boot.

Striker Lee McCulloch who had been on fire all afternoon was carried off the pitch in the 71st minute after picking up a knock and was replaced by Neil Roberts.

Bury's first real chance of note came in the 85th minute when Bury substitute Adrian Littlejohn forced Carroll into action, the Northern Ireland keeper pulling off a fantastic reflex to save to put the ball behind for a corner as Wigan clung onto their lead.

Then with seconds ticking away Bury's Chris Billy received a yellow card for a foul on Paul Dalglish.

Moments later Dalglish returned the compliment with a high tackle on the midfielder and a pitched battle between players from both sides ensued.

Once order had been restored Dalglish saw the now familiar sight of the referee's red card and after consultation with his assistant the referee order Bury's Adrian Littlejohn to follow him.

Wigan substitute Neil Roberts was lucky to escape the early bath as he was seen to connect with a punch as tempers flared.

Wigan have now finished 3 out of the last 4 games with only ten men and Dalglish's red was the 9th this season if you take into account the one that Gareth Griffiths received for the reserves against Shrewsbury Town.