26mins: Nile Ranger shot 1-0

Half time: Latics 0 United 1

50 mins: Joe Holt shot 1-1

55 mins: Jon Routledge shot 1-2

Full time: Latics 2 United 1 

Latics coach Keith Bertschin said:

"The boys worked really hard for this and I thought as a team were superb once again (having beaten Man United last week). Newcastle were a strong team but we kept battling and our finishing on the night was the difference."

Interim Coach Richard Money commented:

“I don’t think anyone in the stadium can believe we didn’t win the game. Not just win it, but win it by a cricket score. That’s football sometimes – we lost our discipline a couple of times.

“I think Ryan’s injury just before the break set us back. We conceded a goal just on half-time and it’s not what you want.

“After we went 2-1 down we could have scored on three or four occasions. We didn’t and we lost, but there was some good energy and purpose. Nile’s performance was terrific."

On injury victim Donaldson:

“We will have another look at it today. He’s gone over on his ankle, and it didn’t look very good at the time, but fingers crossed it’s not as bad as we thought.”

United's second string were looking to build on last week's victory over Blackburn on a damp night in Lancashire - as well as end the club's winless run at Wigan.

However, despite taking a deserved first half lead, Richard Money's side slipped to their fourth defeat in five reserve league & cup outings this season. 

Steve Harper played for the first time since the friendly against Mallorca, while there was a reserve team debut for 16 year-old Galway-born defender Stephen Folan.

Each side had the ball in the net in the opening stages, but both were correctly ruled out for infringements.

Enter striker Nile Ranger, who netted on 26 minutes with a stunning solo effort, flicking the ball up and turning to crash home a right-foot volley from 16 yards.

However, the game was halted six minutes before the interval, when United's Ryan Donaldson was stretchered off with his right leg strapped up.

That caused Newcastle to lose their way, and after springing the United offside trap, Wigan levelled through Joe Holt in added time at the end of the first half. 

Harper was then beaten again on the hour when Jonathan Routledge chipped him to put the home side ahead after being allowed to run unchecked for half the length of the field - the rain by then falling in monsoon-like quantities.

Aside from one effort he placed wide, Ranger faded from the picture and an equaliser never really looked likely.

A late flurry saw a couple of corners won and Harper join the attack in the Latics area, but there was to be no late goalscoring glory for the 'keeper as Wigan held out.
  
That's now two wins and two defeats from our four trips to Robin Park in as many seasons; a venue that lies within the shadow of the JJB Stadium - where we've lost all four of our fixtures to date.

Biffa (with thanks to the Pieman)

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