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Cardiff meanwhile, were severely weakened with the news that star man Robert Earnshaw has left for Premiership club West Bromwich Albion. Alan Lee and Andy Campbell were given the responsibility of trying to fill the void left by the little Welshman.
As ever, the Latics started the game sharp, chasing their opponents and causing trouble with direct balls down the channels. Cardiff on the other hand were slow to shut us down – giving us possession in dangerous areas – and offered very little up front in the absence of Earnshaw. Campbell was not sharp enough while Alan Lee was just a battering ram of a centre forward.
It was clear that a goal was on the way. Nathan Ellington scored from the spot, sending Warner the wrong way after he dummied his way past Weston, being hacked down in the process.
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Cardiff winger McAnuff – signed from West Ham – was causing Leighton Baines plenty of problems down Cardiff’s right, and both Campbell and Lee missed chances as a product of McAnuff’s good work. Cardiff were missing Earnshaw.
Cardiff would be left to rue these missed chances as the Latics enforced their superiority on the game with another superb finish from the big two. This time it was Jason Roberts who slammed the ball into the top right corner of the net after muscling his way past two defenders.
Half Time
Sadly, despite some superb finishing from the front two, the Latics could not add to their lead and win convincingly.
However, they did start the second half brightly, carrying on where they had left off in the first half, creating plenty of chances. Most of these chances fell to Nathan Ellington who was causing the sheep lovers defence all kinds of problems. None were converted.
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Maybe this cost the Latics as Cardiff started the get a hold on the game, and eventually managed to get a way back into the game.
Andy Campbell was played through, he squeezed between Wright and Jackson before sidestepping and early Filan dive, before diving down to ground, fooling the referee in the process.
Alan Lee converted the penalty, putting the ball underneath Filan, slightly to the right hand side.
It lead to a nervous final twenty-five minutes. Cardiff started to come into the game and the Latics panicking, and defending far too deep. Had Earnshaw still been a Cardiff player it could well have been a different story.
As it was the Latics held on for another good result, keeping the club top, one point ahead of Jason de Vos’ Ipswich Town.
Wigan: Filan 6, Wright 7, Breckin 7, Jackson 7, Baines 5, Teale 4 (Eaden 5 [73]), Bullard 6, Frandsen 7, McCulloch 6, Jason Roberts 8, Ellington 9.
Subs Not Used: Walsh, Thome, Graham, Mahon.
Booked: Bullard, Filan.
Goals: Ellington 16 pen, Jason Roberts 36.
Star Man: Nathan Ellington Stinker: Gary Teale.
Cardiff: Warner 8, Weston 6, Vidmar 5, Page 5, Gabbidon 5, McAnuff 8, Boland 6 (Bullock 5 [75]), Kavanagh 7, Robinson 7 (Parry 6 [84]), Campbell 5, Lee 4.
Subs Not Used: Langley, Collins, Alexander.
Booked: Lee.
Goals: Lee 66 pen.
Att: 9,004
Ref: E Ilderton (Tyne & Wear). Seemed far too reluctant to produce a card, and poor communication with assistants dogged the game. He got the penalty decision wrong, but thankfully it hasn’t cost us. There are better, but there are worse… – 5.
Match Reaction to follow tomorrow.