Wigan 0 Newcastle 2: Mo Diame and Christian Atsu sink Latics to send Toon back to the top of the Championship at DW Stadium
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MO DIAME haunted his former club as Newcastle roared back to the top of the Championship without any problems.
The Senegal man slotted home the 26th minute opener after Isaac Hayden robbed Shaun MacDonald in midfield.
And sub Christian Atsu hammered in the clinching second with 12 minutes remaining, just as any hopes of an unlikely Wigan equaliser started to rise.
In truth, Newcastle will not have many more routine wins over the rest of the season.
Now boss Rafa Benitez is really starting to get the Magpies back towards lofting on the perch many believe is rightfully theirs – the Premier League.
The differences between the two clubs were there for all to see on the teamsheet – Newcastle’s multi-million signings against Wigan’s comparative bargain basement captures.
But Benitez at least surprised many by making no changes to the starting 11 that smashed Birmingham 4-0 on Saturday, a very strange phenomenon for Geordie supporters.
However, the tired old souls were still expected to have too much for Warren Joyce’s men.
And they looked determined to press home their advantage in the early stages, presumably before any fatigue could kick in!
However, Yanic Wildschut burst down Wigan’s right and his cross just evaded the head of Will Grigg as they showed they could not be ignored.
Joyce was forced into an early reshuffle after right back Luke Garbutt was forced off inside 20 minutes but disaster really struck six minutes later.
Diame was brought to English football by Wigan when they were in the Premier League and after slotting past Jussi Jaaskelainen he was very restrained in any celebrations.
The goal merely confirmed the air of resignation around many at the DW Stadium, which hardly changed. Diame’s opener almost seemed expected among many Wigan fans.
While Joyce patrolled his technical area largely in hope, Benitez did so in expectation that his men did what was asked.
And Wigan were their own worst enemies, misplacing passes whenever attackers threatened to chase them down.
They were warned in first half injury time when Jonjo Shelvey’s effort was deflected narrowly wide and the Latics attempted to make the most of the let off after the break.
But Wigan appeared to lack belief whenever they went forward – until 58 minutes when Will Grigg headed Michael Jacobs’ corner agonisingly wide.
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Still, though, Karl Darlow in the Newcastle goal, may as well have been in the stands as the hosts failed to register a shot on target for the opening 66 minutes.
However, that changed when sub Andy Kellett – a left-back playing right-back – fired the ball after popping up in the Newcastle box as Wigan finally showed something like their best.
All their hopes were ended, though, when on-loan Chelsea man Atsu found the net with a fierce drive after finding himself alone in the box from Yoan Gouffran’s cross.
Newcastle face a canter towards the top flight on this evidence but Wigan seemingly have a scramble to avoid League One in front of them.