Report by John Patrick Heeley

April 14th, Easter Saturday, was the last time Wigan Athletic had registered a win at the JJB Stadium on a Saturday but that all went out of the window against Swindon as they notched up their first back to back win of the season and stretched their unbeaten run to four games.

This wasn't exactly the best of games to watch but the result in the end was a fair one as the visitors rarely threatened the Wigan defence and when they did it was dealt with by the rock solid rearguard.

In midfield for Wigan was 34 year old Paul Cook, on loan from Burnley and making a return to the club that gave him his break in professional football some 17 years ago.

His contribution to this game was instrumental to say the least in it's outcome as, goal aside, he fitted in surprisingly well with his new team mates and controlled midfield, his distribution of the ball was a delight to watch.

Wigan were without midfielder Tony Dinning who started his second suspension of the season and striker Lee Ashcroft was also missing as he started his own ban.

Ged Brannan had recovered sufficiently from a bout of flu to be selected for the side and started alongside Cook in the middle of the park as Paul Jewell opted for a more conventional 4-4-2 formation.

The game started slowly and it wasn't until the 17th minute that we witnessed the first real goalscoring opportunity.

Paul Dalglish raced down the right wing before putting over a cross to the edge of the penalty area.

Simon Haworth touched the ball on for Andy Liddell who cracked it goalbound testing Swindon's Dutch keeper Bart Griemink.

Dalglish was very unlucky after 19 minutes when his shot from just outside of the area rattled the underside of the bar with the keeper well beaten.

The ball fell loose and was cleared by the Swindon defence as they were let off the hook.

After 25 minutes Haworth had the ball crossed over to him inside the area but he couldn't quite get on the end of it with the goal at his mercy and seconds later Paul Dalglish fired a shot over the bar.

Haworth was unfortunate not to add to his season's tally in the 27th minutes when he lofted the ball onto the roof of the net following a decent move on the edge of the area.

Liddell and Haworth had penalty appeals turned down by the Birmingham official as they pushed forward in search of the opening goal before the break.

Wigan took control of the second half and apart from an injury time flurry from the visitors they also had all the goalscoring chances.

A Paul Cook corner six minutes after the interval found Matt Jackson in the area and the defender placed a header inches over the bar.

Swindon rarely looked like scoring and on their performance at the JJB Stadium it's not surprising that they are the division's second lowest scorers.

Wigan grabbed what proved to be the match winner in controversial fashion with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Andy Liddell was adjudged to have been fouled just outside of the area and awarded a free kick which, both managers agreed later, probably shouldn't have been given.

PAUL COOK picked up the ball and didn't waste any time in taking the kick which deflected off the chest of Andy Liddell and past the helpless keeper.

Seconds later Simon Haworth should have doubled Wigan's lead when he raced clear to go one on one with the Swindon keeper and with Dalglish unmarked to his left decided to chance it alone only to be denied by a fine save from Griemink.

Five minutes later Scott Green went close when his mazy run through the heart of the Swindon defence finished with him firing over the bar.

With 10 minutes of the game remaining a cross into a crowded area fell kindly for Simon Haworth who hit a snap shot at goal but was again denied by the Swindon keeper with a fine save.