Report by John Patrick Heeley

One point from the opening three games is all Wigan can boast after another defeat left them slipping further down the Division Two table.

To be fair Bristol City appear to be on a roll and it would have taken something special to stop their best start to a season since Alex Raisbeck's side won their opening five fixtures of the 1927/28 season.

The first half was almost a non event with either side rarely threatening to break the deadlock.

Wigan were unlucky in the first few minutes when Paul Dalglish, making a welcome return to the JJB, raced down the wing and squared a ball across to Simon Haworth with the goal begging but the Welsh striker was pulled back for offside.

The tanned Steve Jones went close for the visitors inside the first 15 minutes when his overhead kick inside the area went wide of the mark before Mickey Bell rattled the crossbar from 20 yards out, the ball bouncing inches short of the line.

Arjan de Zeeuw headed a Peter Kennedy free kick over the bar from just inside the area on one of Wigan's rare moves into City territory just after the half hour mark.

Danny Wilson's half time team talk did the trick as his side took the lead after only sixty seconds of the restart after Wigan defender Pat McGibbon slipped, gifting Tony Thorpe the ball who laid it off to SCOTT MURRAY and the City midfielder took the ball around Wigan debutant keeper Stewart Kerr to fire in an easy goal.

Their lead was doubled five minutes later as the visitors threatened to run away with the game.

Steve Jones put TONY THORPE through and the division's leading score nodded the ball forward before hitting a fierce shot from just inside the area which Kerr could only parry and watch as the ball went agonisingly out of his reach as it bobbled into the air and into the back of the net.

From then on Bristol City never looked like loosening their grip on the three points and looked more likely to add to their goal tally.

Wigan had appeals for a penalty turned down by referee Steve Baines when Mickey Bell dropped Paul Mitchell inside the box.

The home fans were given a brief glimpse of optimism with 17 minutes of the game remaining.

A Peter Kennedy corner was met by substitute Neil Roberts who nodded the ball down for LEE ASHCROFT to fire in from close range.

It was too little, too late for Wigan and their fans who are still waiting to see their first win of the season.

Let's hope it won't be too long a wait.