Jason Roberts and Alan Mahon struck second-half goals to lift Wigan back into
the automatic promotion places against in-form Cardiff at Ninian Park.
Two morale-sapping home defeats within the past week had shunted Paul Jewell's
side off course in their bid for a top-two finish.
But Roberts struck shortly after the restart before substitute Mahon netted a
late killer second goal to fire Wigan firmly back on track and level on points
with Ipswich, who will reclaim second spot if they avoid defeat at Wolves on
Monday.
Wigan imploded at this stage last term and missed out on the play-offs on the
final day having rarely been out of the top six all year.
However, this hard-fought success was characterised by the type of tenacity
and organisation which suggests the Latics remain a good bet for automatic
promotion.
Moreover, the title itself cannot yet be discounted after this win which,
coupled with Sunderland's surprise 2-1 home defeat against Reading, breathed
renewed life into Wigan's Premiership dreams.
Jewell swung the axe and made three changes to the starting XI which lost 2-1
to Sunderland during midweek.
He handed on-loan Southampton striker Brett Ormerod his first start for the
club alongside Roberts with 23-goal leading scorer Nathan Ellington, now
goalless in five games, shunted out to the left flank and later substituted.
Defender Steve McMillan and midfielder Jason Jarrett were also handed rare
starts while Gary Teale, Leighton Baines and Gary Teale found themselves
relegated to the bench.
The game started at breakneck speed and Cardiff, unchanged from their midweek
victory, began the brighter with the bustling strikeforce of Peter Thorne and
Cameron Jerome proving a source of unease for the visitors.
Wigan skipper Matt Jackson was forced to block a fierce low effort from
18-year-old Jerome before the visitors edged their way into the game.
Wigan goalkeeper John Filan was forced into a smart save from Thorne's header
before Richard Langley nodded narrowly wide from a corner.
Shortly before the half hour mark the hosts should have snatched the lead when
Wigan defender Ian Breckin slipped and allowed Jerome a clear run on goal.
The teenager, who notched a fine brace during his side's midweek victory at
Stoke, strode forward before rounding Filan only to send his left-foot shot wide
of the far post.
Jobi McAnuff then fired wide when well placed as Cardiff edged closer to
transforming their dominance into goals.
However, Wigan's approach this term has been based on their organisation and
discipline and that allowed them to survive Cardiff's first-half onslaught
before stealing ahead six minutes after the restart with a
delightfully-engineered goal.
Ormerod collected the ball 40 yards out before finding Ellington in his
new-found position on the left flank.
The striker was forced back towards his own goal but a neat short pass found
McMillan moving forward. The full-back curled in a delightful left-wing cross
which saw Roberts display outstanding dexterity to arch himself into position
six yards from goal and plant a firm header past Neil Alexander.
Reinvigorated, Wigan wasted no time in pushing for a second goal and Jewell
switched Ellington back into his accustomed central striking role alongside
Roberts while Ormerod patrolled the left flank.
Ellington struck a venomous 20-yard shot which deflected off Collins and flew
inches wide of an upright before Roberts almost connected with a
superbly-flighted cross from Ormerod.
Cardiff boss Lennie Lawrence, aware that his side are still not safe from
relegation, threw on twin strikers Alan Lee and Michael Boulding, but Mahon
tapped home Kavanagh's unselfish pass with five minutes remaining to seal
victory.
Teams:
Cardiff Alexander, Gabbidon, Barker, Collins, Vidmar, Ardley,
Langley, McAnuff (Boulding 69), Ledley, Jerome, Thorne (Lee 69).
Subs Not Used: Boland, Margetson, Williams.
Booked: Vidmar.
Wigan Filan, McMillan, Jackson, Breckin, Eaden, Kavanagh,
Jarrett, Bullard (Wright 86), Ormerod, Ellington (Mahon 76),
Roberts.
Subs Not Used: Walsh, Teale, Baines.
Booked: Kavanagh.
Goals: Roberts 51, Bullard 86.
Att: 16,858
Ref: G Hegley (Hertfordshire).
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