Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan made hard work of it but in the end were worthy of the three points at Cambridge's Abbey Stadium and now must ensure that they overcome the challenge of Bristol City who have nothing left to play for but professional pride.

Cambridge rocked Wigan into life on 25 minutes when skipper Paul Wanless nodded home a Barry Ashbee free-kick to give the home side the lead.

Lee McCulloch levelled five minutes later before Cambridge substitute Omar Riza was adjudged to have handled in the area on 58 minutes giving Carl Bradshaw the opportunity to bang in his third goal of the season from the resulting spot kick and give Wigan a vital victory as the season approaches the final weekend.

Wigan manager Steve Bruce had been forced into a number of changes due to injury or suspension.

Andy Liddell, Darren Sheridan, Steve McMillan and Stefan Bidstrup all missed the trip through injury whilst Paul Dalglish was resigned to taking his seat in the Habbin Stand as an interested spectator as he started his seven match ban following two successive dismissals over the Easter weekend.

Kevin Sharp and Carl Bradshaw returned to the starting line up in defence whilst Scott Green took his place down the right side of midfield behind Simon Haworth and Lee McCulloch as Bruce resorted to a 4-4-2 formation.

Wigan were given an early warning when keeper Roy Carroll was forced into a superb one handed save from a Paul Wanless header in the third minute after the Cambridge skipper collected a Ian Asbee free kick in the middle of the Wigan penalty area.

Cambridge's leading scorer, 21 year old Tom Youngs, should have done better when he fluffed a golden opportunity, missing a free header from yards out.

Simon Haworth came close to breaking the deadlock when his header from a Peter Beagrie corner was cleared off the line by the Cambridge defence in the thirteenth minute.

Wigan were finding it difficult to cope with the home side's route-one style of football.

Bang it upfield and chase seemed to be The U's tactics and it seemed to cramp Wigan's style making it difficult for the visitors to get a grip on the game.

Kevin Sharp received a yellow card on 19 minutes for alleged deliberate hand ball before he gave away a free kick 5 minutes later down the Cambridge United right wing.

Ian Ashbee floated the kick into the Wigan area and PAUL WANLESS was there at the far post to head into the roof of the net.

Within minutes Cambridge almost doubled their lead but after getting the better of the Wigan defence midfielder Tero Pilvi managed to put the ball over the bar from only yards out.

From the resulting dead ball Roy Carroll found LEE MCCULLOCH with a long kick upfield that beat the Cambridge defence and Wigan's record signing managed to get a boot to the ball to lob Marshall, who had raced off his line, and despite the efforts of two Cambridge defenders bounced into the goal.

Wigan came out for the second half a more determined side and took control of the game and only two minutes after the restart Simon Haworth picked up a through ball and broke through the Cambridge defence leaving him one on one with Marshall but his shot on goal lacked any kind of power and left the Cambridge keeper with the simplest of saves to make as he came out to narrow the angle.

Wigan were entitled to have a whinge over referee Phil Joslin's decision in the 56th minute to deny them a penalty after Cambridge defender Andy Duncan blatantly handled the ball in the area as Haworth tried to find a way through.

The Newark official waved play on saying he hadn't seen the incident, it was clear enough from where I was sat in the Habbin Stand thirty odd yards away so why wasn't it to him?

Wigan continued their assault on the Cambridge goal, and after Beagrie was denied by Marshall from close range, were rewarded for their persistance in the 59th minutes when the Cambridge keeper attempted to clear his line, but only managed a matter of yards and found substitute Omer Riza who had only been on the field a matter of minutes, and under pressure from a number of Wigan players handled the ball and this time the referee didn't fail to spot the offence and pointed to the spot.

Up stepped CARL BRADSHAW who coolly dispatched the resulting kick into the roof of the net with Marshall diving to his left for his third goal of the season.

Cambridge, threatened by relegation, desperately chased the game and created a number of chances but they closest they came to snatching a share of the spoils came in the dying minutes when Wigan defender Arjan de Zeeuw's attempt to head clear a Hanson free kick bounced off the crossbar.

Wigan's destiny is still in their own hands but with Stoke, Walsall and Bournemouth also winning their games at the weekend they must win at the JJB Stadium next weekend when their opponents will be Bristol City.

Bournemouth face a tough test away at Reading where they must win. Anything less would mean that Wigan's result is immaterial and would put them into the play-offs.

Stoke City have, on paper, an easy task as they face relegation threatened Swindon Town at the Britannia Stadium and Walsall have two away games with Port Vale on Thursday followed by Northampton Town on the final day.