Wigan got their promotion bid back on track after withstanding a late
fightback from fellow play-off hopefuls Coventry.
The home side had ripped up the formbook to totally dominate the opening 45
minutes against Coventry, currently on the top of their game.
Coventry, who had scored eight goals in their previous two league games
against Burnley and Preston, are challenging strongly for a play-off spot.
In stark contrast Wigan, despite being in the play-off zone, lost to West Brom
in midweek and had not won in three going into this match.
Andy Liddell got in a good early cross for the home side but the danger was
cleared by Calum Davenport.
Wigan continued to press with Eric Deloumeaux then clearing a Matt Jackson
free-kick.
Jimmy Bullard's sixth-minute corner found Andy Liddell at the far post as
Wigan carved out another opening but Liddell's goalbound shot was blocked.
Liddle was in the thick of the action again after 12 minutes but his 25-yard
free-kick missed the target.
But the home side gained their reward after 16 minutes when Bullard's pass
found Jason Roberts.
Roberts, back in the starting line-up after completing a three-match
suspension, kept his cool to smash home a half-volley and give his side a
thoroughly-deserved lead.
That breakthrough rocked the visitors, who had won five of their six previous
games, and despite plenty of endeavour chances were at a premium for Eric
Black's side.
Wigan deservedly doubled their advantage when Liddell, making his 200th league
start for the club, crossed into the area.
As the Coventry defence dithered Roberts reacted to steer the ball past
Coventry goalkeeper Scott Shearer midway through the first half.
Coventry had a rare effort on goal after 26 minutes when Stephen Warnock's
corner found Mo Konjic but his shot was blocked.
It proved a brief respite, however, as Shearer parried a close-range effort
from Roberts to deny the Wigan striker a first-half hat-trick.
Shearer was again called into action seven minutes before the interval as he
made a superb save from Lee McCulloch's header.
Coventry pushed forward in the early stages of the second half with Wigan
goalkeeper John Filan denying Julian Joachim from close range after 49 minutes.
But Wigan continued to look dangerous going forward and Ian Breckin went
close with a header from Bullard's corner.
Davenport drilled a shot just wide after 65 minutes as Coventry looked for a
way back and they halved the deficit seven minutes later.
Wigan were guilty of failing to clear a Bjarni Gudjonsson corner and Stephen
Warnock was ideally placed to lash the ball home and give the visitors hope
after being under the cosh for so long.
Filan then saved when Davenport powered a header towards goal from
Gudjonsson's corner as Wigan withstood the visitors' late pressure.
Teams
Wigan: Filan, Eaden, Breckin, Jackson, Baines,
Liddell (Flynn 80), Jarrett, Bullard, McCulloch, Jason Roberts,
Ellington.
Subs Not Used: Walsh, Mitchell, Neil Roberts, Farrelly.
Booked: Jarrett.
Goals: Jason Roberts 16, 22.
Coventry: Shearer, Deloumeaux, Konjic, Davenport, Staunton,
Kerr, Doyle (Adebola 78), Warnock, Gudjonsson, Joachim,
McSheffrey (Olszar 64).
Subs Not Used: Ward, Shaw, Barrett.
Booked: Joachim, Warnock.
Goals: Warnock 72.
Att: 8,784
Ref: L Cable (Surrey).
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