Jason Roberts' debut strike after just 33 seconds set Wigan on their way to a second away win in 10 matches and a convincing derby victory at Preston.

Roberts, signed from West Brom in a £2million deal this week, neatly converted Gary Teale's cross to break the deadlock, but Dickson Etuhu's 30th-minute header restored parity.

Nathan Ellington, who played with Roberts at Bristol Rovers, scored with a close-range header on the stroke of half-time to put Wigan back in front, and after Teale added a third in the 72nd minute, Ellington slammed home his second of the afternoon to make the game safe.

Graham Alexander's late penalty was little more than consolation for Preston.

The visitors got off to the perfect start as Roberts opened the scoring with his first touch.

Teale's cross from the right picked out the forward, and he coolly flicked the ball past goalkeeper Jonathan Gould to stun the home crowd.

The Latics, buoyed by their early breakthrough, came close to a second after nine minutes, but Ellington failed to hit the target with a header from Nicky Eaden's inviting centre.

Preston, who started the day fifth in Division One following a seven-game unbeaten league run, hit back as Tyrone Mears brought a good save from John Filan.

Filan was called into action again moments later as he tipped over a stunning volley from Alexander, and from the resulting corner he palmed away a header from Brian O'Neil.

However, there was little the Australian stopper could do about North End's equaliser on the half-hour.

An Alexander free-kick found the head of Etuhu, and the midfielder glanced the ball home for his third goal of the season.

Wigan responded, though, and after Ellington saw a snapshot tipped over the crossbar by Gould, he made no mistake with a thumping header from six yards from Teale's cross.

Paul Jewell's men could have added a third shortly after the restart, but Lee McCulloch was off target with two chances in quick succession.

Preston brought on striker George Koumantarakis for defender O'Neil, and the South African was straight into the action, heading just wide from an Alexander corner after 64 minutes.

But it was Wigan who grabbed the all-important fourth goal with just under 20 minutes remaining to give them a two-goal cushion.

Teale raced on to Gould's goal-kick and smashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net for his first of the campaign.

The Latics were not finished, however, and capped a stunning second-half display with a fourth. Ellington collected Teale's pass and drilled the ball into the top-right corner for his 11th goal of the season.

Preston battled and grabbed a consolation from the spot after Jason Jarrett brought down Richard Cresswell in the area. Alexander gave Filan little chance with his kick.

Teams

Nottm Forest: Ward, Louis-Jean, Walker, Morgan, Robertson, Sonner, Gunnarsson (Bopp 66), Williams, Reid, Taylor, King.

Subs Not Used: Jess, Roche, Doig, Westcarr.

Booked: Sonner, Reid, King.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Brown, Williams, Shorey, Murray (Hughes 90), Watson, Sidwell, Salako, Goater (Owusu 76), Forster.

Subs Not Used: Ingimarsson, Morgan, Young.

Goals: Murray 41.

Att: 23,116

Ref: M Thorpe (Suffolk).