WIGAN TOP PREM (honest)

[jayp]

Wigan 3 Sunderland 0

Having started with a narrow defeat at Goodison Park, Chris Hutchings' new look Wigan Athletic have notched two consecutive wins with four goals and none conceded to rise to the summit of the Premiership, even if it is for the interim. Kevin Kilbane fills in at left back in the permanent absence of Leighton Baines, Titus Bramble and Andreas Granqvist hold the central defence as opposed to Stephane Henchoz and Arjan De Zeeuw, and Mario Melchiot is skippering at right-back. Antonie Sibierski partners Emile Heskey upfront. I would have chosen Kilbane on the left wing with Paul Scharner at left-back, Denny Landzaat central midfield with Jason Koumas, Luis Valencia on the right wing. When the current formation play as Wigan did yesterday, there is little to debate changing.

Sunderland gained four points out of six and came down with a thump. Their defending was scrappy and desperate with a number of decisions that appeared to warrant intervention from the referee Mike Riley going ignored. Nyron Nosworthy seemed to have had a hold on Heskey but Heskey looked to go down easily, perhaps to show Nosworthy's grip on him. Greg Halford came in with a tackle to eventually bring down Koumas which looked a clear penalty and then clearly barged Heskey away as the striker chased a back-pass. But Wigan made the breakthrough on 19mins with Valencia crossing for Heskey, the ball deflecting off Nosworthy but still making its way to the striker to cut into the goal.

Paul McShane came to a high ball in the second half and clashed heads, with blood seeping from a head wound. As he was being treated, play continued with Danny Collins covering from midfield for McShane and then holding back on Sibierski in the box. Landzaat stepped up to deposit the spot-kick just past the hour. Minutes later and Wigan were awarded another penalty via more clumsy defending as McShane's replacement Russell Anderson came in on Heskey in the box. Replays showed the challenge was as late as Heskey going down rather tamely. This time Sibierski scored from the penalty spot.

[Beefy]

Now it's Man City, the worlds gone mad. I hope City do well this season, Eriksson for the England job