Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan Athletic returned to winning ways with a stunning 4-0 victory over promotion chasing Cardiff City at the JJB Stadium but unfortunately the main topic of conversation following the game was Simon Haworth and his Ayotollah salutes to the travelling City fans immediately after entering the game as a 83rd minute replacement for Paul Dalglish.

The Cardiff born, former Bluebirds striker's gestures pleased the away support gathered in the middle of the East Stand but rattled more than a few of his own fans who even charged down to the dug out to insist that he be removed from the pitch.

Everybody has their own opinions on the matter and the debate as to whether or not his actions were right or wrong will probably go on long after Simon Haworth has left the club.

Paul Jewell had to do without the influence of Andy Liddell in attack after he picked up a knock to his knee during training earlier in the week but not even the absence of the popular Liddell could win Haworth a place in the starting eleven, ironically only days after his selection for the Wales squad.

Instead the Wigan manager opted to push Gary Teale into a more forward role leading the attack alongside the constantly improving Lee McCulloch and Paul Dalglish slotted into midfield to fill the gap leaving Haworth to remain on the bench.

Wigan pushed forward from the outset and didn't have to wait long for the opening goal. Latics forced a corner out on the left which Peter Kennedy sent over and Arjan De Zeeuw used his height and strength to rise above the pack to get a head to it, setting up LEE MCCULLOCH to nod in from close range after just 80 seconds.

Latics continued to enjoy the lion's share of possession and territorial advantage and it came as no suprise when a second goal arrived. Lee McCulloch had just narrowily missed the target with a low drive after 25 minutes when Latics forced another corner kick which was to be again taken for Northern Ireland international midfielder Peter Kennedy.

This time he found the head of 6' 4" Canadian JASON DE VOS who powered home from the edge of the keeper's six yard box virtually unchallenged.

Just before the interval Gary Teale went agonisingly close to grabbing his first goal for Wigan since his £200,000 move from Ayr United when his pace carried him past the last defender Daniel Gabbidon before sending a low drive from just outside the area which shaved Alexander's right hand post.

The visitors were a bit brighter in the second half and could have got themselves back into the game on a few occassions but found John Filan in fine form in the Wigan goal denying Peter Thorne and Andy Legg with superb saves.

It took only 7 minutes after the restart for Wigan to stretch their lead and put the game out of Cardiff's reach. Peter Kennedy sent over another one of his corners to the far post where JASON DE VOS was lurking and the Canadian international skipper nodded in from close range for his third goal in a Wigan shirt.

After 66 minutes Wigan added further insult to the scoreline and unbelievably the goal came from yet another Peter Kennedy corner which De Vos flicked on for ARJAN DE ZEEUW to come flying in to nod home from close range.

Cardiff couldn't muster a response and Wigan could have had more but in the end settled for four and all three points ending a dismal run of five games without a win.

Apart from the result there's one thing that can be taken from this game and that was the contribution to the game by Peter Kennedy who performance was encouraging for the future.

Wigan have proven they can cut it with the division's pace setters but for some unknown reason they play badly against the poorer sides. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues on Tuesday night when they travel to Meadow Lane to face second bottom Notts County and a win will see Wigan climb two more places up the table to thirteenth but defeat could also see them drop two spots.