It's all over as Newcastle get off to a winning start in a close game at St James' Park with Scott Parker and Shola Ameobi getting the goals while Lee McCulloch grabbed Wigan's effort.

Albert Luque is feeling the pressure and is booked after a reckless tackle on Lee McCulloch.

Antonio Valencia is replaced by striker David Connolly for the final moments of the game for Wigan.

Newcastle find attack to be the best form of defence as they get forward to win a late corner which is taken by Belozoglu Emre but cleared away by Wigan.

Wigan make a change in the hunt for a goal as Denny Landzaat is replaced by Graham Kavanagh.

Wigan are their own worst enemy as they keep giving silly fouls away in the penalty area when they win corners to give Newcastle a breather.

It is set to be a nervy final 10 minutes for Newcastle as Wigan almost get on level terms as Steven Taylor diverts Henri Camara's shot wide of the post.

Henri Camara pulls the ball back to Denny Landzaat from the byline and the midfield debutant scoops the ball over with his left-foot.

Titus Bramble is forced to concede a corner under pressure from Henri Camara. It is taken by Denny Landzaat but the referee gives Newcastle a free-kick for a foul against Albert Luque.

Shola Ameobi is forced to come off with that earlier knock and is replaced by Albert Luque.

Wigan win a free-kick inside their own half as they look to spark a fresh attack. Emile Heskey gets up but can't trouble Shay Given with the header.

Damien Duff almost gets in on goal but Arjan De Zeeuw does well to get a block in on the former Chelsea man.

Wigan will be furious at conceding a second so soon after equalising. Charles N'Zogbia was given far too much time and space to hit the shot which created the goal.

Newcastle respond in perfect fashion as Charles N'Zogbia picks up a Damien Duff pass before hitting an effort which Chris Kirkland can only parry to SHOLA AMEOBI who fires in the rebound.

The equaliser has brought the game to life as both sides are looking like they now want to go for the victory which should give us an interesting final 30 minutes.

The game restarts and Wigan break quickly and when Stephen Carr can only head a clearance to the edge of the area LEE McCULLOCH lashes a fierce drive past Shay Given.

Antonio Valencia is booked fo a foul on Belozoglu Emre.

Chris Kirkland races out to clear the ball away but his momentum carries him into Shola Ameobi with both players nowdown on the turf needing treatment.

Arjan De Zeeuw almost grabs an equaliser for Wigan as he powers a header at goal but Nolberto Solano clears it off the line.

Celestine Babayaro wastes a good chance for Newcastle after excellent work by Charles N'Zogbia as he nocks his cross straight at Chris Kirkland.

Wigan win a free-kick in a good position and it is taken by Dutch ace Denny Landzaat who fires his effort high and wide.

Nolberto Solano plays the ball into Stephen Carr but his cross into the area is well gathered by Chris Kirkland.

It has been a fairly slow start to the second half proceedings with Newcastle enjoying more possession.

The weather has fortunately changed for the better with bright sunshine out however the pitch has a lot of standing water.

Steven Taylor is brought on for Newcastle at half-time as Craig Moore appeared to have picked up a knock during the first 45 minutes.

The second half is underway as Newcastle will look to build on their lead, while Wigan, who looked lively in the first half will be hoping to get something from the clash.

The half-time whistle blows with Newcastle holding a slender advantage thanks to Scott Parker in treacherous conditions at St James' Park.

Henri Camara gets up well in the area to head the ball goalwards and it deflects off Lee McCulloch as Shay Given finger tips it around the post.

Emile Heskey sends a flying header towards the Newcastle goal and Henri Camara is inches away from diverting it past Shay Given.

The goal has arrived at a great time for Newcastle as Wigan were just starting to exert some pressure on them in the latter stages of the first half.

Newcastle go upfield and take the lead as excellent persistant play by Shola Ameobi sees his cross headed home by Scott Parker.

There is a little concern over this game as the water on the pitch is getting worse as Lee McCulloch is denied by good save from Shay Given as he heads Denny Landzaat's cross at goal.

Leighton Baines wins another corner for Wigan which is played in by Denny Landzaat but Shay Given collects.

Nolberto Solano attempts to glance a header towards goal from a Damien Duff cros but Chris Kirkland gathers comfortably as the rain starts to fall again.

Scott Parker flies into a tackle and concedes a free-kick right on the edge of his own penalty area but Wigan waste the chance as Celestine Babayaro is fouled in the area.

Newcastle struggle to clear their lines again as Wigan enjoy their best spell of the game but cannot break down the home defence.

Stephen Carr is forced to concede a corner as Wigan's new strike pairing of Henri Camara and Emile Heskey look to break. The ball is cleared but Wigan come back and claim another flag-kick.

Emmerson Boyce does well to get back and play the ball out of play as Charles N'Zogbia again looked to ge on the end of a Celestine Babayaro ball.

The arrival of Charles N'Zogbia has made Newcastle more of a threat going forward in the past few minutes as Wigan are forced to defend in numbers.

Chris Kirkland produces heroics with a fantastic save to deny a stunning long range effort from Scott Parker.

Nicky Butt's return to the action is short-lived as he is replaced by Charles N'Zogbia.

Leighton Baines plays the ball in to Emile Heskey in the area but Shay Given does well to save but an offside flag went up very late.

Cheers from the Geordie faithful as Nicky Butt is able to resume although he does not look like he can see properly after taking that bang to his head.

The game is held up momentarily as Nicky Butt needs treatment for a head injury which has forced him to leave the pitch.

Emile Heskey is the first player in the notebook for a nasty looking slide tackle on Celestine Babayaro.

It has been frantic opening few minutes as heavy rainfall earlier in the day has left the pitch with standing water all over it. Mistakes could well be on the cards in this game.

Damien Duff almost plays in Shola Ameobi for a free run on goal but the referee's assistant correctly flags the lone hitman offside.

Newcastle break forward after that early scare with Belozoglu Emre trying his luck from distance but he too fails to hit the target.

Titus Bramble slips on the soaking pitch which lets in Henri Camara but theWigan forward shoots wide with Lee McCulloch waiting for a pass.

Good early pressure from Newcastle causes problems for Wigan duo Fitz Hall and Emmerson Boyce but they manage to clear.

The Premiership season is underway with Newcastle looking to get off to a flying start as they try and go one better than last season's seventh-placed finish and qualify for Europe automatically this time. Wigan will be aiming to improve on their exc

The Wigan starting XI: Kirkland, Boyce, De Zeeuw, Hall, Baines, Valencia, Scharner, Landzaat, McCulloch, Heskey, Camara.

Wigan boss Paul Jewell has opted to field six of his summer signings, including on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, striker Emile Heskey and Ecuador's World Cup star Louis Antonio-Valencia.

Stephen Carr and Damien Duff are both fit after suffering injury scares while on international duty with the Republic of Ireland in midweek, while goalkeeper Shay Given - who hurt is back in the game in Latvia - is fit to take his place between the s

Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder has named the same starting side that defeated FK Ventspils in their Uefa Cup qualifier in Riga last week for their Premiership curtain-raiser against Wigan Athletic at St. James' Park.