It just gets better and better for Wigan Athletic

Report by John Patrick Heeley

On Sunday it had been Leeds' turn to taste defeat at the hands of Paul Jewell's men and two days later Stoke City fell to the same fate with Wigan Athletic extending their unbeaten start to the season to seventeen games and also stretching their winning streak to six.

Lee McCulloch's late goal gave Latics a deserved victory but to be honest many of the travelling fans would probably have been satisfied with a single point from the game but all three were more than welcome.

The home side were the first to test their opposition's keeper when former Latics target Chris Greenacre got on the end of a cross from Wayne Thomas but the ex-Mansfield Town frontman could only direct his volley straight at John Filan.

They went closer a couple of minutes later with former Norwich midfielder Darel Russell bringing the best out of the Wigan keeper from close range with Matt Jackson forcing the ball out for a corner after Ade Akinbiyi had pounced on the loose ball.

Wigan's first real chance of note came soon after with Lee McCulloch forcing Ed de Goey into tipping his volley from the edge of the area over the bar.

Nathan Ellington broke clear just after the half hour mark but all his hard work came to nothing as he shot straight at the keeper and moments later he fired well over from close range after connecting with Jimmy Bullard's flag kick.

Latics could have gone into the break with the lead but McCulloch dragged his effort wide of the upright after Ellington had teed him up on the edge of the area.

Stoke were the first off the blocks after the restart with Chris Greenacre got on the end of a Wayne Thomas centre but the striker could only direct his header straight at Filan and moments later Darel Russell was inches wide of the post with his low drive from 25 yards out.

That was about it as far as threats from Tony Pulis' side went from then on as Wigan moved up a gear and in the 63rd minute almost took the lead through Alan Mahon but his ambitious scissor kick cracked the bottom of the post with de Goey stranded.

Ellington was replaced with 10 minutes of normal time remaining after The Duke had taken a knock and his replacement Mike Flynn looked lively for the remainder of the match.

Wigan were passing the ball around well but any chances they had went either over the bar or the wrong side of the post - Roberets and Mahon both guilty as the minutes ticked away.

However just as it seemed that Wigan were going to be held to their third goalless game this season up popped the winner - Alan Mahon and David Graham combining to line up the ball for LEE McCULLOCH to lash a low drive beyond de Goey's reach from 25 yards out.

The goal sent the travelling army of Wigan fans wild and the Stoke fans up the steps for an early exit such was their disappointment at falling for the sucker punch.