Nathan Ellington's 22nd strike of an excellent campaign saw Wigan leapfrog Sunderland back to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship and leave Ipswich's top-two ambitions in jeopardy.

Ellington had received a verbal volley from strike-partner Jason Roberts for sheer greediness in the opening stages of a one-sided contest but the Latics ace marksman ensured there was no lingering resentment, netting the 42nd minute penalty which gave Wigan maximum points and sent the Tractor Boys spinning to their third successive defeat.

From a position of comfort at the head of affairs barely a month ago, Ipswich now find themselves third, three points adrift of their rivals, with a vastly inferior goal difference and just 10 games left to rectify the situation.

It should be a situation which leaves Wigan's growing band of supporters grinning from ear to ear, instead they are only fearful of an off-field battle which threatens to turn their own season into a catastrophe.

Ten years after taking command of his home-town club and less than 24 hours since he laid on his personal helicopter to guarantee the arrival of new £350,000 signing Graham Kavanagh, Wigan owner Dave Whelan took his seat at the JJB Stadium he had built knowing his cherished Premiership dream is in danger of being ripped away not by an opponent, but by Greater Manchester Police.

The row over policing costs which has rumbled on between Wigan and GMP for the past 18 months has suddenly escalated into all-out warfare.

On Monday, GMP chief-superintendent Peter Mason will take away the JJB's safety certificate, meaning that unless a solution can be found, next Saturday's home encounter with Millwall will be Wigan's last they are allowed to play on their own ground.

It is a distraction manager Paul Jewell could certainly do without, although the way his team set about Ipswich suggested there was no belief in the dressing room that the Latics' promotion bid was about to come to an abrupt halt.

In what was expected to be a closely fought contest between the two sides who looked to have carved the automatic Premiership places amongst themselves until Sunderland gatecrashed their duel a month ago, Ipswich were comprehensively outplayed.

One early failed Wigan chance saw Roberts stride angrily over to Ellington to offer a volley of abuse after a dash into the box in support of his prolific strike partner had been ignored even though a simple square pass would have resulted in a certain goal.

Wigan were presented with one of those too when a Roberts shot cannoned back of a post, straight into Jimmy Bullard's path. Astonishingly, from barely seven yards, the midfielder screwed his shot wide.

At that stage, Jewell must have been fearing a sucker punch but salvation was at hand three minutes before the break when Roberts played an astute pass into Ellington's path.

The former Bristol Rovers striker had not even taken a touch before Fabian Wilnis barged him over.

The spot-kick award was automatic and Ellington strolled up to calmly put Wigan ahead, cheekily rolling the ball slowly home after Kelvin Davis had committed himself.

Ipswich were no more competitive in the second half and it needed an outstanding save from Davis to deny Bullard, who strode onto Roberts' astute flick and unleashed a fierce first-time effort the keeper kept out with a flying stop.

Teale fired over and Ellington went close near the end and though Ipswich mounted a valiant injury-time rally, they never looked remotely like gaining a point.

Teams:

Wigan Filan, Eaden, Breckin, Jackson (Wright 40), Baines, Teale (Graham 82), Bullard, Kavanagh (Jarrett 69), McCulloch, Roberts, Ellington.

Subs Not Used: Walsh, Johansson.

Booked: McCulloch, Kavanagh, Roberts.

Goals: Ellington 43 pen.

Ipswich Davis, Wilnis, Naylor, Unsworth, Richards, Miller, Horlock (Counago 69), Westlake, Currie (Magilton 59), Bent (Bowditch 45), Kuqi.

Subs Not Used: Karbassiyoon, Price.

Att: 16,744

Ref: G Laws (Tyne & Wear).