Latics go second courtesy of Horsfield double

Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan Athletic moved into second place in Division One after this victory over Stoke City with Geoff Horsfield scoring twice for Latics after Glifton Noel-Williams had given the visitors a half time lead against the run of play.

Wigan had dominated much of the play in the opening period but failed to capitalise on their movements in front of goal and were punished for that when Stoke found the back of the net five minutes before the break.

The second half saw Stoke come out firing on all cylinders, their confidence boosted by Noel-Williams opener but 10 minutes in Wigan got the goal that had eluded them in the opening forty five when The Horse blasted home his third goal of the season.

Criticism had been aimed at the former Birmingham and Fulham forward from certain quarters for his recent dry spell but those that had doubted the 29 year old were certainly eating their words, especially when he netted the winner with little over 20 minutes of the game remaining.

Paul Jewell kept faith with the same eleven that had started against Derby County at the weekend with the only change in his squad coming on the bench, Peter Kennedy returning from international duty/suspension with young Leighton Baines making way for the Irishman.

The game was played at a frantic pace, entertaining to say the least for the 7,678 fans in attendance and a good advert for Division One football.

Wigan passed the ball around well but were finding it difficult to penetrate the Stoke defence and it wasn't until the 14th minute that they saw their first real assault on former Chelsea keeper Ed De Goey's goal when Lee McCulloch collected a Nicky Eaden ball from the right at the far post but the Scot couldn't manage to get a shot in.

Andy Liddell fired over from distance five minutes later and then McCulloch shot wide with his effort shortly after but despite Wigan virtually parking themselves in the visitors half of the field it was Stoke who went closest to breaking the deadlock in the 28th minute.

Former Sheffield United and Gillingham striker Carl Asaba unleashed a fierce shot from the edge of the penalty area that seemed destined to creep in under the bar but John Filan was on hand with a fingertip save to send the ball over at the expense of a corner.

On the half hour mark Nathan Ellington set up Jimmy Bullard on goal but his low shot drifted the wrong side of De Goey's upright and minutes later Ellington collected a ball from Eaden before teeing up McCulloch but his shot from 12 yards out sailed over.

Ellington then fired into the side netting with players waiting after good work down the left side but The Duke's game was cut short minutes later when he pulled up with a groin injury and was replaced by Neil Roberts, fresh from his stint with Mark Hughes' Wales squad.

Stoke took the advantage with 5 minutes of the first half remaining when Kris Commons raced forwards, cutting the Wigan defence in half, before sliding the ball to GLIFTON NOEL-WILLIAMS who fired past a helpless Filan.

Latics almost replied from the restart but 6' 6" De Goey got a glove to Tony Dinning's 25 yarder for a corner to Wigan.

Stoke started the second half the brighter but it was the Wigan fans who were given something to shout about 10 minutes into it following a goalmouth scramble.

Lee McCulloch stuck the ball into the middle of the area and just as Dinning was lining himself up for an attempt on goal the Potters' defence cleared but only as far as GEOFF HORSFIELD who blasted home from 6 yards out.

Horsfield combined with Bullard just after the hour mark but the former Peterborough midfielder lifted his shot over the bar.

If Wigan were going to end their 4 match drawing streak they were going to have to do something they hadn't done at home in the league so far this season and that was score a second goal and it arrived with 68 minutes on the clock.

Nicky Eaden pumped a long ball forward and despite the attention of on the edge of the box GEOFF HORSFIELD managed to shake off his marker, race towards goal and send a thunderbolt past De Goey to the delight of the Wigan faithful.

Feed The Horse and he will score now seems to be the phrase banded about these days!

Bullard went close to adding a third in the 79th minute when McMillan picked him out in the middle of the area but Bullard's powerful header was kept out by the Dutch keeper.

Wigan seemed to sit back in the final minutes, defending their lead, soaking up everything the Staffordshire side could through at them, but they were extremely fortunate in the dying seconds of stoppage time when rattled the crossbar with the last attack of the evening.

Wigan have now gone 14 games unbeaten in all competitions and certainly seem to have found their feet at this higher level but only time will tell just how far Paul Jewell can lead his men.