WIGAN ATHLETIC.................1
Folan 17

MANCHESTER CITY.............0

Latics completed their fourth successive league win over Manchester City after Caleb Folan netted his second Latics goal half-way through the first period.

Jewell's men produced the better football at the City of Manchester Stadium, and deserved the lead which was taken from a well worked set piece in the 17th minute.

Denny Landzaat was fouled by Micah Richards to concede the free kick. Leighton Baines sent the ball into the area which was headed back across the box by Emile Heskey. A nervous looking Nicky Weaver stood still at the near post leaving Caleb Folan to head home from close range. It was the second time Folan scored against City earlier this season for former club Chesterfield in the Carling Cup.

Paul Jewell named an unchanged starting eleven following the win over Newcastle United the following weekend, and that meant a 150th league start for captain Matt Jackson in the centre of defence. The only change was on the bench, where Julius Aghahowa replaced the injured Henri Camara, who aggravated his hamstring injury during the week.

Latics had chances to increase their lead long before the half-time whistle. In only the fourth minute, Folan flicked on a header for Antonio Valencia whose shot was blocked by Michael Ball.

Three minutes later Lee McCulloch had a brilliant chance to open the scoring when Folan stormed down the right flank. The 24-year old cut the ball back across the box to the Scotsman, but it was skied over the bar from close range. McCulloch also forced Weaver into a save at his near post after he unleashed a twenty-five yard half-volley.

Heskey was substituted for Kevin Kilbane in the second half, and so McCulloch moved up front. The Scot, who celebrated six years at Latics yesterday, had yet another chance in the 56th minute as he forced Weaver into a save from his low shot after good movement from both Landzaat and Folan.

In a nail biting end as Latics hung on, substitute Aghahowa looked to have been dragged down in the area by Richard Dunne with five minutes to go but referee Howard Webb did not award the penalty, and replays showed Dunne had timed the tackle perfectly. There was just enough time before the final whistle for Kilbane to cut in from the left-flank and fire an angled shot straight at Weaver.

City hardly troubled John Filan for much of the first half, whereas Nicky Weaver looked particularly indecisive on more than one occasion as Latics piled on the pressure into the City area.

But the hosts did improve as the first half closed, and they threatened through Joey Barton's corners. One of which was diverted just the wrong side of the far post by Richards, and another which was cleared off the line by Emmerson Boyce.

Inevitably, Latics were under even more pressure from City in the second half as they became more desperate not to drop further down the Premiership table.

American midfielder Da Marcus Beasley was a particular threat down Wigan's right flank and five minutes after the restart, he weaved his way past Ryan Taylor, and his shot was deflected by Jackson and saved by Filan before any other City striker could get a chance. And in the 65th minute Filan was forced to make a point blank save from Beasley again after Boyce lost possession in the box.

In stoppage time, Baines earned himself a booking from a rash tackle on Richards conceding the free-kick. Barton sent the ball into the box, which was crossed back in and flicked on by Bernado Corradi, but Filan managed to hang onto Dunne's close range header as Jewell's men hung on.

Pearce's men really took the game by the scruff of the neck but really their quality in the final third was lacking. Having said that, Wigan totally dominated the first half and deserved the half-time lead. Latics had to be more dogged as they defended their lead valiantly in the second half, but this was a another three points deserved.

Latics: Filan; Taylor, Boyce (Unsworth 76), Jackson (c), Baines; Valencia (Aghahowa 75), Skoko, Landzaat, McCulloch; Folan, Heskey (Kilbane 55).

Substitutes: Nash, Cotterill.

Booked: Baines, Landzaat.

Manchester City: Weaver; Richards, Dunne, Distin, Ball (Sturridge 86); Trabelsi (Sun 32), Beasley, Barton, Ireland; Corradi, Samaras (Mpenza 46).

Substitutes: Isaksson, Hamann.

Booked: Ball, Trabelsi, Dunne.

Referee: Howard Webb (South Yorkshire)