Latics hit the dizzy heights with convincing win

Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan Athletic moved into second place in Division One, the highest position they've ever held in their history, thanks to a convincing win over troubled Wimbledon in what could be the South London club's last ever home game at Selhurst Park with the controversial move to Milton Keynes beckoning for them.

Latics had stormed into a 3 goal lead just after the half hour mark with Jimmy Bullard, debutant Geoff Horsfield and Andy Liddell all on target but goals either side of the interval gave the 'home' side fresh hope of avoiding their straight defeat but Nathan Ellington scored his fourth goal in as many games to put the game out of their opponent's reach.

Little more than 1,000 fans turned up for this game with the Wigan contingent making up around half of that and three stands closed to spectators.

New boy Horsfield lined up alongside Ellington in the front line with an attack minded midfield of Jimmy Bullard and Jason Jarrett flanked by Andy Liddell and Lee McCulloch bearing down on the three man defence that Dons manager Stuart Murdoch had assembled.

The Wimbledon gaffer had opted for three up front but they rarely got a look in and the extra man in attack left them severly lacking in the rearguard, for which they were made to pay for in a first half which could have seen them several goals down.

Wigan's opening goal on 21 minutes was a pearler with JIMMY BULLARD latching onto a half clearance just outside of the area from a Nicky Eaden free kick, the former Peterborough midfielder hammering a low shot just beyond the reach of former Bolton keeper Steve Banks.

Latics doubled their advantage 8 minutes later with Horsfield going someway to repay the confidence his new manager has in him.

The £1 million signing won the ball in the middle of a packed area and instinctively found ANDY LIDDELL lurking in space out right, the Wigan number 7 hammering home into the far corner.

A third goal wasn't long in coming with GEOFF HORSFIELD in the right place at the right time 4 minutes later when the ball came out a melee around the goalmouth following a Bullard corner, he made no mistake and prodded home from six yards out.

For whatever reason Latics fell asleep and almost immediately from the restart the home side had pulled one back.

A long ball down the middle caught Breckin and Jackson with their heads in the clouds, allowing PATRICK AGYEMANG the space and time to race clear, round John Filan and slot home his third goal of the season.

Both sides remained unchanged for the beginning of the second half and within 4 minutes of the restart Wigan had a game on their hands again when Agyemang got the better of Breckin before laying the ball off to JOEL McANUFF who coolly rammed it home to reduce the deficit to one goal.

All Wigan's hard work nearly went out completely out of the window when Agyemang's header forced a save out of Filan but it was Rob Gier's shot hitting the bar from the rebound that really had the visiting side's hearts in their mouths.

With such a slender lead there was always the chance that the Dons would snatch an unlikely equaliser but that was put beyond reach when Latics scored a fourth, the first time they've achieved that feat on their travels since the 4-1 drubbing of Preston at Deepdale some 4 years ago.

A quickly taken corner by Andy Liddell found Bullard in space but it was his perfect cross to the centre of the area that proved decisive, picking out NATHAN ELLINGTON in acres of space to send a powerful header crashing into the back of the net.

That goal seemingly knocked the stuffing out of Wimbledon even though there was still well over 30 minutes of the game remaining with Wigan actually looking more likely to add insult to injury with a fifth.

The victory was Wigan's first over Wimbledon away from home soil and also moved them to the highest ever position in their history and victory against Gary Megson's table topping West Brom at the JJB on Tuesday night could even see them hit the summit. You never know!