Wigan 3 - 0 Sunderland

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Saturday Aug 18 2007 03:00

Emile Heskey showed just why manager Chris Hutchings reckons he could still do a job for England in the forthcoming European qualifiers.

The forgotten striker - last capped three years ago and discarded too soon according to his manager - was outstanding as Wigan made it two wins in four days to storm up the Premier League table.

He scored the first goal, played his part in the second, a Denny Landzaat penalty, and earned the spot-kick for number three, scored by Antoine Sibierski.

Wigan were unchanged with £2million ex-Fulham midfielder Michael Brown on the bench after suspension.

Roy Keane predictably made changes with Dwight Yorke, Kieran Richardson,and Anthony Stokes back after missing the midweek draw at Birmingham.

Keeper Chris Kirkland faced early danger when he was forced to keep out a Richardson near-post effort after Wigan gave away an early corner.

And he also did well tipping a Michael Chopra free-kick over the bar after Paul Scharner's foul on Yorke ten yards outside the box.

But otherwise, Wigan were in charge. They had a penalty appeal turned down when Heskey went down under the challenge from Nyron Nosworthy but ref Mike Riley appeared to get it right.

Wigan took the lead after 19 minutes when Antonio Valencia's ball into the box took a deflection to Heskey, who came up with a confident finish although the Latics striker did appear to be offside.

Heskey was unlucky to be pulled back for offside as he raced clear and Wigan fans were fuming again when a strong penalty claim from Jason Koumas failed to impress Mr Riley.

Kirkland kept Wigan's lead intact with a save from Daryl Murphy after Richardson set up the chance but Craig Gordon was just as effective at the other end turning a Heskey header over the bar from Landzaat's free-kick.

The lively Heskey did have the ball in the net again but this time he was nabbed for offside and Wigan had to settle for a 1-0l half-time advantage.

Sunderland went close when Andreas Granqvist blocked from Ross Wallace but the Latics got the all-important second goal after 61 minutes.

Sibierski was bundled over by sub Danny Collins chasing Heskey's header and this time the ref had no doubt, and Landzaat made no mistake from the spot.

Heskey was then brought down by Russell Anderson and Sibierski hit his third of the season from the spot.

Live Commentary

90
FULL TIME - WIGAN 3 - 0 SUNDERLAND: Roy Keane shakes hands with Chris Hutchings and swiftly makes his way down the tunnel. Wigan have given his Premiership new-boys a wake-up call with an emphatic, and thoroughly deserved, victory

90
The fourth official indicates two minutes of added time.

89
The visitors will be hoping there is minimal amount of added time as they count down the seconds to the final whistle.

87
The majority of the travelling supporters have left the stadium, to make an early start on the long journey home.

85
Koumas, who has run the game today, curls an inviting cross into the danger area but Gordon manages to punch the ball clear

83
Michael Brown is brought on to make his debut for the closing stages of the game. He replaces Paul Scharner.

81
Wallace puts a hopeful cross into the penalty area but the visitors have given up now, and Granqvist clears with ease

79
Wigan are cruising at the moment and Chris Hutchings will be delighted.

77
Emile Heskey is replaced by Caleb Folan, and the goalscorer receives a rapturous applause for his performance this afternoon.

75
Mario Melchiot leaves the field, making way for Julius Aghahowa

73
Miller gets a cross into the box but Kirkland rushes off his line to collect the ball.

71
Sunderland have fallen to pieces now and Roy Keane is left fuming on the sidelines, with two of his substitutes conceding the penalties.

69
WIGAN 3 - 0 SUNDERLAND: ANTOINE SIBIERSKI takes the penalty this time, and drills it past the helpless Craig Gordon.

68
Russell Anderson brings down Heskey inside the area and Wigan have a second penalty.

65
Sunderland will be wishing they had taken their chances just minutes before Wigan doubled their tally.

64
Dickson Ethu is cautioned for a rash challenge on Paul Scharner

63
Roy Keane makes immediate changes. The quiet Paul McShane is replaced by Russell Anderson

62
WIGAN 2 - 0 SUNDERLAND: DENNY LANDZAAT rolls the ball into the bottom-right corner of the goal from the penalty spot

61
Danny Collins receives the first booking of the game for challenge which lead to the penalty.

61
Sibierski is hacked down by Collins on the penalty spot and this time, Mike Riley awards the penalty.

59
Chopra shrugs off Bramble but is pulled back for offside.

57
Miller takes the corner this time and Collins gets his head to the cross but sends the ball wide of the mark

56
The resulting corner is taken by Wallace. He picks out Miller who strikes the ball from 18-yards but Heskey gets in the way, and the visitors win another corner.

55
Ross Wallace gets on the end of a cross and hits a low shot which deflects off Granqvist just wide of the post

53
Chopra looks to have a spring in his step. He gets a shot away from just outside to box, but Bramble is marking him tightly and gets a block in.

52
The last times these two sides met in the Premiership, Wigan did the double over Sunderland, each time with a 1-0 victory.

50
The ball falls kindly for Collins inside the area, but he appears to take his eye of the ball for a split second and makes a mess of the opportunity.

48
Koumas hits a long-range free-kick but it sails straight down the throat of Gordon.

46
Sunderland attack immediately but Chopra's cross is blocked by Bramble.

45
The in-affective Dwight Yorke makes way for Danny Collins

45
The two players taking the field were warming-up vigorously during the interval. Liam Miller replaces Anthony Stokes

45
The two sides re-appear and Roy Keane makes two changes to the line-up, while Wigan remain unchanged.

45
HALF TIME - WIGAN 1 - 0 SUNDERLAND: Mike Riley brings the first-half to a close and Wigan are 1-0 up thanks to a fine Heskey goal. The big striker has been lively for the home side, while Michael Chopra has looked bright for the visitors.

43
Wigan are trying their luck from all over the pitch at the moment. Sibierski this time lets fly from well outside the area, but sends his shot straight into the arms of Gordon.

41
Heskey is causing all sorts of problems at the moment. He gets behind the Sunderland defence and puts the ball in the net, but the offside flag is raised,

39
Heskey climbs above Nyron Nosworthy and nods the ball goal-wards, forcing a spectacular save out of Gordon

36
This fixture is usually a low-scoring encounter, and it looks set to be heading that way again despite the amount of efforts on goal from either side

34
Chopra is looking lively and his team-mates appear to be looking to get the ball into his feet as much as possible.

32
Chopra controls the ball well before pulling the trigger, but Andreas Granqvist blocks the shot

30
The rain is still pouring down inside the JJB Stadium, but the home faithful continue singing and urging on their side

28
Heskey chases down a back-pass and looks as if he may make it before he is pushed over by a Sunderland defender, and again Mike Riley waves play on.

27
Denny Landzaat hits an action replay shot of the Valencia effort just moments earlier, but he sends his shot wide of the mark

26
Luis Antonio Valencia finds some space and hits an ambitious effort, but fails to trouble Gordon

24
The game is fast and furious at the moment, as Sunderland begin showing the Roy Keane 'never-say-die' attitude

22
Richardson lets fly from just outdie the penalty box, but Melchiot gets his body in the way

20
Heskey goes in search of another and finds himself through on goal, but he is pulled back for offside.

18
WIGAN 1 - 0 SUNDERLAND: Sibierski crosses and finds EMILE HESKEY, who is wide open, and he slots the ball past Craig Gordon from the edge of the area.

15
Richardson's delivery from corner-kicks are of the best quality. He floats the ball into the mixer for Ross Wallace, but Chopra is pulled up for a handball.

13
Richardson finds Greg Halford with a corner, but he fires over from 12-yards.

12
Chopra steps up to take a free-kick, 30-yards from goal. He swings it goal-wards and forces a fine save out of Kirkland

10
Koumas picks out Melchiot with another corner, but the Dutch defender is penalised for a foul

8
The pitch looks slippy and some of the players appear to be finding it hard to stay on their feet

6
Jason Koumas picks out Mario Melchiot from a corner but he heads the ball over the crossbar

5
Dwight Yorke links up with Michael Chopra, who rolls the ball into the six-yard box but Wigan manage to punt the ball clear

3
Emile Heskey gets a break before he is bundled over in the area and appeals for a penalty, but Mike Riley waves away the protests.

2
Richardson takes a short corner with Murphy, whose low cross is smothered by Chris Kirkland at his near post

1
Daryl Murphy slips a pass into the box looking for Kieran Richardson, but a Wigan defender intercepts and concedes a corner

0
Referee Mike Riley gets the game underway. The two sides have met eight times previously, all in the Premiership, half of which ended up as draws.

0
WIGAN: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Granqvist, Kilbane, Valencia, Scharner, Landzaat, Koumas, Heskey, Sibierski. SUBS: Pollitt, Hall, Brown, Aghahowa, Folan

0
SUNDERLAND: Gordon, Halford, Nosworthy, McShane, Wallace, Richardson, Etuhu, Yorke, Murphy, Chopra, Stokes. SUBS: Miller, John, Collins, Anderson, Connolly

0
Summer signing Michael Brown is in the Wigan squad for the first time after suspension, but Emerson Boyce and Ryan Taylor are both sidelined.

0
Sunderland make the trip to the JJB Stadium without Carlos Edwards and Grant Leadbitter, who are both injured. Dwight Yorke and Kieran Richardson both make the starting line-up however, while Stern John is on the bench.

Statistics

Wigan

Shots on target	6
Shots off target	5
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	8
Offsides	3
Corners	5

Sunderland

Shots on target	6
Shots off target	3
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	17
Offsides	2
Corners	9

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