Marcus Stewart's hotly-disputed third-minute winner left Sunderland just eight
points away from a Premiership return and threatened to turn Wigan's promotion
dream into a nightmare.
After spending all but two weeks of the campaign in the top two, Paul Jewell's
men now find themselves behind the Black Cats and Ipswich, with just five games
remaining to turn the situation around.
It represents a chilling repeat of 12 months ago, when Wigan only fell out of
the play-off places in the final minute of the final game and Jewell now faces a
major test of his managerial abilities to lift a side that has now suffered
back-to-back home defeats inside four days following Saturday's reverse to West
Ham.
Not even a record JJB Stadium football crowd could prevent Sunderland
completing an eighth successive Coca-Cola Championship win and Mick McCarthy's
men now seem certain to take the Football League trophy with them on their
return to the top flight.
Three wins should certainly be within their grasp on this evidence, especially
if the Wearsiders enjoy the type of good fortune they experienced in the
build-up to Stewart's crucial strike.
The entire Wigan side stopped, believing the ball had drifted out of play
before Liam Lawrence swept forward down the right flank.
Instead, the game continued, allowing Lawrence to drift a superb cross beyond
the Latics defence and straight into the path of Stewart, who expertly nudged
home his 16th goal of the campaign.
The incident sparked furious protests from the home camp, who had not
recovered from another pivotal decision going against them at the other end.
Had Wigan's Gary Teale smashed his second minute shot into the net instead of
straight at Thomas Myhre, referee Andre Marriner might have been praised for his
willingness to play the advantage when Gary Breen clipped Jason Roberts' heel.
Instead, the move backfired, leaving Wigan to complain Breen should have been
dismissed as Roberts would have been clean through as he darted onto Nathan
Ellington's flick.
To have that frustration compounded by the officials' failure to spot the ball
crossing the touchline in the build-up to Stewart's opener was almost too much
to bear for Jewell, who spent the remainder of the first half in animated
annoyance, his body literally shaking as every order was barked out.
Beside him, McCarthy was a picture of contentment as Breen and fellow
centre-half Stephen Caldwell almost completely snuffed out the threat of
Ellington and Roberts, who between them had found the net on 42 previous
occasions this term.
As well as the best defenders, Sunderland also had the most productive
offensive player in Lawrence, who threatened havoc everytime he took possession
down the right flank.
Though his delivery never came close to the expert cross that picked out
Stewart for his opener, the winger kept Leighton Baines at full stretch,
stepping inside the England Under-21 full-back before lashing a volley just
over.
Only a well-timed block from Ian Breckin prevented Stewart doubling the Black
Cats lead immediately after the interval, although the half-time introduction of
Brett Ormerod as a third striker did succeed in giving Wigan the impetus for an
attacking assault that lasted most of the second period.
Breckin rose unmarked to meet Graham Kavanagh's free-kick but planted his
header straight into Myhre's arms and the Sunderland keeper was equally at ease
dealing with Ellington's speculative strike which proved to be the best sorry
Wigan could muster.
Teams:
Wigan Filan, Eaden, Jackson, Breckin, Baines,
Teale (Jarrett 64), Kavanagh, Bullard, Mahon (Ormerod 45),
Roberts, Ellington.
Subs Not Used: Walsh, McMillan, Wright.
Sunderland Myhre, Wright, Breen, Caldwell,
McCartney (Danny Collins 73), Robinson, Lawrence, Whitehead,
Arca, Brown, Stewart (Elliott 82).
Subs Not Used: Deane, Thornton, Alnwick.
Goals: Stewart 3.
Att: 20,745
Ref: A Marriner (W Midlands).
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