Report by John Patrick Heelet

Latics thrash Blades to return to top of the table

Wigan Athletic galloped back to the top of the Coca Cola Championship table with a convincing win over Neil Warnock's Sheffield United with the strike partnership of Nathan Ellington and Jason Roberts both grabbing a brace.

There wasn't much to separate the two sides during the opening twenty minutes or so but three goals in six minutes before the break finished off the game as a competition and left the visitors wondering what had hit them.

Ellington's opener with 28 minutes on the clock was his 50th goal in all competitions since joining the club in April 2002, his 42nd in the league.

Who would bet against him breaking Andy Liddell's record of 70 by the time the season finishes next May?

As for Liddell, he had to watch the game from the West Stand after failing to recover from a thigh injury - many Wigan fans were probably happy with that, not wanting to see the striker playing for the opposition.

Paul Jewell made one change to the starting line up, the first time he had done so this season, with Nicky Eaden coming off the bench to replace David Wright and the fact that Eaden's daughter was one of the mascots surely didn't have anything to do with his manager's team selection.

The game started with Sheffield on the attack and also saw the games first caution with Jack Lester chasing the ball into the Wigan area.

He was beaten to it by John Filan, only to clatter into the Wigan keeper and earn himself a yellow card for his trouble - and all within the first minute.

The Blades were on the offensive again in the 8th minute but Ashley Ward could only aim his shot straight at Filan who collected quite comfortably.

Eight minutes later and Sheffield were awarded a free kick just outside the Wigan area after Matt Jackson had impeded Lester, the resultant kick sent marginally over by former Chelsea and Fulham defender Jon Harley.

The game exploded into life just before the half hour mark and minutes later was put right out of Sheffield United's reach.

Gary Teale whipped a right wing ball over to Lee McCulloch just beyond the far post, the Wigan number 10 then nodding it into the danger zone.

With Jason Roberts waiting to pounce Phil Jageilka attempted to clear but his attempt went only as far as NATHAN ELLINGTON on the edge of the penalty area and after controlling with his knee he rattled home with a cleverly placed volley beyond former Bury keeper Paddy Kenny.

The Wigan fans had barely settled down from celebrating the Duke's goal when his strike partner got in on the act.

Ellington, never far away from the action, ran onto a ball down the right, took it to the byeline and whipped it back for JASON ROBERTS who hit a first time shot past Kennny after cleverly stealing in behind the Sheffield United defence.

Shell-shocked United were dealt another blow just two minutes later as NATHAN ELLINGTON hit his 51st goal for the club with a piece of pure magic, totally justifying the media attention he has been receiving of late.

The former Bristol Rovers striker chased after a long ball forward from Per Frandsen and then carved open the visitor's defence with ease before tucking a low shot beyond Kenny from the edge of the area.

The interval saw Warnock make a couple of changes with Jack Lester, who'd picked up a knock before the break, replaced by promising 18-year-old striker Jonathan Forte, and Nick Montgomery making way for Tommy Black who'd joined on loan from Crystal Palace at the tail end of the week.

Wigan threatened to increase their lead and within 10 minutes of the restart Lee McCulloch saw a shot from distance parried away by Kenny and minutes later Ellington was denied a hat trick with a fine save from the Republic of Ireland international.

The first of Paul Jewell's substitutions was forced upon him in the 67th minute when Alan Mahon replaced Per Frandsen in the centre of midfield.

The Dane had gone down in some pain and required a stretcher to remove him from the pitch which will cause some concern for Paul Jewell should he lose the former Bolton Wanderers star for any length of time.

Matt Jackson picked up a yellow card in the 72nd minute for a foul on substitute Andy Gray with Tommy Black finding Jonathan Forte's head but Filan had no problem with his save as the young striker directed his effort at goal.

Alan Mahon then tested Kenny at the other end of the park before Jewell made his second change of the game with Lee McCulloch making way for David Wright after the former Motherwell man had taken a knock to the head.

Emerson Thome was introduced to the action as a straight swap for Matt Jackson with 7 minutes of normal time remaining, the Latics captain limping off the field.

With the game entering time added on by Co Durham referee Nigel Miller Wigan made it four with JASON ROBERTS doubling his afternoon's tally.

Alan Mahon first charged forward down the middle and with a slide rule pass split the Sheffield defence to find Roberts who skipped past one defender before slotting the ball past a helpless Kenny.

The visitors pushed for a consolation but the best they could muster was a Phil Jagielka header from an Alan Quinn centre directed straight at Filan which proved to be the final piece of the day's action.

The win, combined with results elsewhere, saw Wigan move back to the top of the table and further establish themselves as favourites for the title.