Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan failed to register their first league win over visitors Tranmere Rovers on home soil despite taking a 20th minute lead courtesy of a 20th minute Andy Liddell spot kick.

Wigan had the advantage for only 4 minutes however as 18 year old Republic of Ireland U19 international Sean Thornton popped up to fire home his very first goal for the club.

Wigan were reduced to ten men 2 minutes later when Lee McCulloch charged in with a two footed challenge on midfielder Jason Koumas but despite the loss Wigan had the better opportunities of grabbing a winner however it wasn't to be with Tranmere's Dutch keeper John Achterberg pulling off a string of fine saves to deny them.

In a classic case of sod's law it was former Wigan striker Stuart Barlow, a 62nd minute replacement for Alex Hay, who sneaked into head home the decisive goal, his 15th of the season.

Matt Jackson returned to the squad from injury, replacing Ian Nolan at right back, but the former Everton and Norwich defender was obviously not fully match fit and struggled at times to keep up with the pace of the game.

The only other change from the side that had drawn at Swindon the previous weekend was the inclusion of young Ian Pendlebury, who had only been offered a professional contract days before, and the Atherton based defender started the game in an unorthodox midfield role in place of the injured Gary Teale.

Stuart Barlow started the match on the bench for Tranmere leaving another former Wigan striker Simon Haworth to partner Sean Thornton in the visitors attack.

The teenager, who was only starting his 5th ever league game, had come into the game on the back of scoring the winner for the Republic's U19 squad against Holland on Wednesday night in a European Championship qualifier.

The sides ran out to a sea of orange with many Wigan fans adorning orange attire and releasing hundreds of orange balloons as a tribute to club captain Arjan De Zeeuw in a bid to persuade him to sign another contract with Wigan when his current one expires shortly.

Wigan started the brighter of the two sides but it wasn't until the 19th minute that the game really got going. Latics pushed forward again on the offensive and as Scott Green attempted to pull a ball across the area from the right flank Tranmere defender Gareth Roberts was adjudged to have handled in the box, although somewhat harshly, and FIFA referee Mike Riley pointed straight to the spot.

Up stepped ANDY LIDDELL to calmly slot home from 12 yards for his 15th league goal of the season taking his total for the club to 42, two more than Stuart Barlow and within two goals of the tally achieved by Bryan Griffiths, Graeme Jones and Simon Haworth who all lie in joint third place in Wigan's all time league goalscoring chart.

Wigan's lead was however shortlived and 4 minutes later Jason Koumas raced down the left and sent a ball over to the far post where SEAN THORNTON was on hand to nod over John Filan giving the bleached haired, silver booted youngster his first ever goal in domestic football.

Thornton then proceeded to anger a section of the Wigan crowd as he trotted along the byeline in front of the South Stand with his celebration.

The game was certainly alive now and moments later Tranmere went close to taking the lead but Alex Hay failed to put a cross from Gareth Roberts away, heading wide of the mark but then the incident that may have turned the game occurred.

Lee McCulloch lost the ball near the half way line with £2 million rated Jason Koumas eventually taking possession and for a reason possibly only known to the Scottish striker himself McCulloch lunged in with both feet with a challenge that had 'Please send me off ref' written all over it.

Mike Riley, who was stood a matter of feet away, duely obliged, leaving Latics with it all to do.

Despite the numerical disadvantage Wigan didn't roll over and Paul Mitchell went extremely close to grabbing his first goal for the club when the 20 year old's shot was superbly saved at full stretch by the Dutch keeper.

After 35 minutes Koumas sent a shot narrowily over Filan's crossbar and minutes later the Aussie shotstopper was on hand to tip over a Nick Henry effort as it threatened to dip under the woodwork.

Neil Roberts was introduced to the proceedings at the expense of Ian Pendlebury during the interval with Paul Jewell hoping to plug the gap in attack left by the departure of Lee McCulloch.

Stuart Barlow received a rousing reception from the Wigan faithful when he was brought into the game just after the hour mark as part of a double substitution by manager Dave Watson which also saw Iain Hume take to the field.

Jason De Vos almost added his fifth goal in a Wigan shirt when he connected with a Scott Green free kick but Acheterberg was on hand yet again to collect the Canadian captain's powerful header.

Moments later it was the other former Wigan striker in the thick of things and Simon Haworth did nothing to endear himself to the fans of his old club when he kicked out at John Filan as he collected the ball from a corner, leaving the Wigan keeper on the deck.

Filan immediately leapt to his feet and with Jason De Vos attempting to split the pair up Filan lashed out earning himself a booking along with Haworth.

Wigan then had a number of chances to pull away, the first falling to Arjan De Zeeuw whose effort from yards out was charged down by the defence before Tony Dinning fired wide and soon after Steve McMillan forced another fine save out of Achterberg with a fierce shot.

Wigan seemed to be heading for their 16th stalemate of the season when up popped little STUART BARLOW with just over 5 minutes of normal time remaining to settle the game.

Rovers defender Alan Navarro sent over a ball from the right and there was the diminutive striker to stick a header past a helpless Filan. A number of the Wigan faithful got to their feet to applaud their former idol who most feel shouldn't have been allowed to walk away from the JJB Stadium.

Wigan pressed forward in a vain attempt to salvage something from the game and preserve their unbeaten run and indeed laid siege upon the visitors' half but couldn't find a way through.

However Tony Dinning sent a shot wide before Achterberg did well to save from the former Wolves midfielder.

Nobody could have argued with Paul Jewell when he claimed that his side were unlucky to lose the game and the loss of one of his strikers so early in the game did more than hinder his side's chances although they did more than enough to earn praise from their manager, apart from McCulloch whose ears must still be ringing from the tongue lashing he inevitably received from the gaffer.

McCulloch now has a three match suspension ahead of him meaning that he will miss out on most of the remainder of the season.