Queens Park Rangers 0 Wigan Athletic 1 - Saturday 22nd March 2003

History makers delight travelling Tics

Report by John Patrick Heeley

West London on a sunny day was the ideal location for Paul Jewell's men to rewrite the club's history books and take a huge step closer to the First Division for good measure.

Nathan Ellington's 13th league goal of the campaign earned Latics their 25th win of the season, one short of their record of 26 set in both promotion seasons of 81-82 and 96-97.

Their 14th victory on the road however has eclipsed the total of 10 set in the 86-87 season and their are still trips to Northampton, Huddersfield and Cardiff to come!

John Filan's 20th shutout of the current league season has also surpassed the record set in Wigan's first season in the league when they kept 18 clean sheets over the duration of the campaign but one of those was kept by Mark Grewe, signed on loan from West Brom after John Brown had been sidelined through injury.

And the latest in a line of records that the side assembled by Paul Jewell can feel proud of was the fact that the crowd of 14,703 was the highest that any Latics side has won in front of in a league game.

In fact it was only the third time that Wigan have tasted victory in front of over 10,000 fans, the previous games being at Bristol City at the beginning of this year and at Deepdale at the start of the 1999/2000 season when a Stuart Barlow treble helped Wigan register a memorable 4-1 win over local rivals Preston.

Anyway back to the matter in hand. It took a single goal early in the second half to settle this tie but QPR, who were still chasing the feint hope of that second automatic promotion spot, hardly troubled Wigan's goal with Jason De Vos and Matt Jackson in awesome form in the centre of defence plus they had John Filan to contend with on the rare occasions that they found a way past the formidable centre half partnership.

Champions elect Wigan have conceded a meagre 9 goals away from the JJB Stadium this season (another record which looks more than likely to be smashed) and their form away from home has played more than a major part in their success this season.

Young Leighton Baines continued at left back as Jewell named an unchanged side to the one that drew at Stockport earlier in the week with Steve McMillan failing to recover from injury and the 18 year old again impressed with a solid, courageous display that will have done his future at the club no harm at all.

Wigan went close to drawing first blood in the second minute when Ellington took the ball from Paul Furlong before setting Neil Roberts on his way only for ex Latics defender Gino Padula to make an important interception to deny his former team mate.

The visitors continued to press forward in a lively opening and kept QPR at bay but the home side did give them a bit of a fright in the 13th minute when a decent move down the left created by Kevin McLeod, making his debut after signing on loan from Everton, resulted in leading scorer Kevin Gallen getting in a shot on goal.

Gallen's effort was blocked but Furlong pounced on the loose ball and fortunately for Wigan Filan was alert to the situation and made a fine blocking save with his chest from close range.

The best chance of the opening half fell to Wigan soon after when Ellington charged forward through the centre before unleashing a powerful shot which beat the QPR keeper but Ian Holloway's side had the woodwork to thank as The Duke's effort cracked against the post.

Welsh striker Roberts then saw his attempt well saved by Day midway through the half before McLeod fired one narrowly over the bar at the other end.

As half time neared QPR found their feet to some extent but without causing Wigan too much problems although McLeod did continue to look lively in midfield for the West London club.

The second half had barely got underway when the all important goal came along and with it ended a run of 5 games without a goal for Wigan's record signing.

A left wing cross from Jimmy Bullard was met by Neil Roberts who flicked the ball into the danger zone and NATHAN ELLINGTON twisted and threw himself at the ball to chest home past Rangers keeper Chris Day.

That sent the travelling Wigan fans behind that goal into a frenzy and you could almost taste the champagne which must surely now be on ice ready for the party to end all parties.

Wigan eased off the gas slightly and allowed their opponents to play a bit more football but apart from a free kick from Richard Langley which was well dealt with by Filan and an attempt by McLeod that also tested the Aussie keeper.

The QPR fans had little to write home about when Premier League referee Steve Dunn brought an end to proceedings for Wigan's first ever victory over a side that were regarded as a top flight side not that long ago.

The Latics fans were still singing when they exited the ground but not before chairman Dave Whelan had walked across to show his appreciation to them and also shake a few hands.

The look on his face was that of a happy man, his smile could have stretched all the way up the M1 and back home to Wigan.

The JJB Sports supremo is very close to fulfilling the next part of his plan to see the club he owns and loves playing football at a level never before witnessed in this town.