Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan Athletic continued their winning start to the season with their third consecutive league victory, never before achieved by a Wigan side since they were elected to the Football League in 1978.

Bristol City were always going to be a hard nut to track and pushed Latics all the way, even after they were reduced to 10 men early in the second half when midfielder Danny Coles was red carded for a rash challenge on Nathan Ellington.

The visitors had the first real chance of the game when Christian Roberts was sent clear in the area but Peter Kennedy came to Wigan's rescue with a well timed interception to clear for a corner.

Wigan's first chance of note came 8 minutes later when Tony Dinning intercepted a City pass just inside their half and with Andy Liddell to his right charged forwards with only two defenders between them and Steve Phillips' goal.

The Wigan pair played a quick one-two but Dinning's shot on goal was tame to say the least, leaving the Bristol City keeper very little to do.

In the 22nd minute Wigan won possession 20 yards out by the touchline and Scott Green delivered a low ball across the City area and beyond the reach of Phillips but Andy Liddell was a couple of yards from connecting, leaving it to go out for a goal kick beyond the far post.

Latics did get the ball in the back of the net after 26 minutes when a Peter Kennedy throw in found Andy Liddell on the corner of the penalty area.

Liddell turned and sent a curling ball towards the goalmouth. Phillips came of his line to collect and in doing so collided with the incoming Scott Green, dropping the ball in the process and Green tapped home but referee Uriah Rennie disallowed the goal for a foul on the keeper.

Ellington went close to getting his first goal against Bristol City in the 31st minute after failing in five previous Bristol derbies.

The former Bristol Rovers striker got his head on the end of a Peter Kennedy cross from the right but saw the ball whizz narrowily wide of Phillips' left hand post.

Five minutes later Ellington turned provider when he nodded the ball down for Andy Liddell a few yards from goal but the shot from last season's leading goalscorer left a lot to be desired.

De Vos headed over the bar from a Scott Green corner in first half stoppage time while at the other end of the field Lee Peacock gave Wigan a fright when he broke clear on goal but found John Filan in fine form as the Aussie keeper came out to block his shot.

Ian Breckin and Mike Flynn were introduced to the action after the break replacing Ged Brannan and Jason Jarrett with the two substitutes making their league debuts following their arrival at the club during the summer.

Danny Coles got his early bath in the 52nd minute when he lunged at Ellington from behind with a nasty tackle leaving the South Yorkshire official with no option but to reach for his red card.

Ellington found himself in the referee's notebook two minutes later when he stuck his boot in Matt Hill's back.

Scott Green could have done better with his shot in the 57th minute after Andy Liddell had taken on two defenders on the edge of the City area before squaring the ball to his team mate who scuffed his shot straight to Phillips.

Scott Green did well in the 63rd minute to control the ball and fend off the attentions of two Bristol defenders in the area before sending a chip over to the far post where Andy Liddell was inches away from connecting with it and three minutes later Tony Dinning was just wide of the mark with a fierce shot.

Wigan got the opening goal in the 75th minute when Peter Kennedy sent a delightful cross to the far post where SCOTT GREEN was waiting to stab home.

With two minutes of normal time remaining Mike Flynn hit a flyer just wide from 25 yards and as the game crept into stoppage time Wigan doubled their lead with a goal from nowhere.

LEE MCCULLOCH picked up the ball 25 yards out and unleashed a low drive beyond the reach of the City keeper.

Injury time saw a chance at either end with a Mickey Bell free kick threatening to creep in by the post but Filan had other ideas and then Ellington sent a shot just wide from the edge of the area.

The win takes Latics two points clear at the top of Division Two, albeit after only 3 games and there is one thing for sure - they mean business this season.