Report by John Patrick Heeley

After Tuesday night's defeat at the hand of table-toppers and arch rivals Preston North End Wigan needed to get back to winning ways to put the promotion train back on track.

Two goals from Simon Haworth gave them the three points but the performance was far from convincing and laid back to say the least.

The crowd of 4,848 that witnessed the game was a far cry from Tuesday night's figure as well.

Mind you Oxford's 2-300 following didn't exactly match upto Preston's mass exodus along the M6 either.

The few that did manage to peel themselves away from the TV and the Grand National were sent away happy at the end of the day, well the vast majority anyway, with another win and that bit closer to Division One.

And, at the end of the day, it's results that matter at this crucial stage of the season.

The game started slowly with few chances at either end, Wigan wasting any opportunities that came their way and Oxford being shut out by Wigan's solid defence.

The only clear cut chance of note in the first quarter was a Neil Redfearn shot from just outside the box but his effort sailed agonisingly over the bar.

Oxford pushed forward just after quarter of an hour and managed to catch Latics on the break.

Paul Tait found himself in space and fired a low shot goalbound which Roy Carroll did well to get down and block with an outstretched leg sending the ball behind for a corner.

Soon after Oxford found themselves on the attack again but former Preston North End striker Nigel Jemson saw his effort on goal blocked by Darren Sheridan.

The deadlock was finally broken on 23 minutes after Neil Redfearn had been brought down by Mark Watson on the edge of the penalty area on the right hand side.

On loan mdfielder Terry Cooke, who has just had his spell with Wigan extended to the end of the season at least, floated the resulting free kick into a crowded area but managed to pick out 6'3" SIMON HAWORTH who rose almost unchallenged to nod the ball in from 10 yards out, leaving keeper Richard Wright, on loan from Derby County, with little hope of reaching it.

Latics then took control and a landslide was expected as they pushed forward at every opportunity, passing the ball around well but hitting the target seemed too much of a tall order.

Neil Roberts had a thunderous shot from outside the area tipped over the bar as it seemed destined for the roof of the net whilst Jeff Peron found himself clear on goal and should have shot but instead slipped a square ball to Simon Haworth who was immediately swamped by what seemed like every Oxford player on the park and the danger was cleared.

Another incident of note from the first half was when referee collided with an Oxford player and hit the deck and needed attention from Wigan physio Alex Cribley before the game could be restarted.

Half Time: Wigan 1 Oxford 0

Oxford came out for the second half and immediately began pushing forward in an attempt to grab an equaliser and after less than five minutes into the half Murphy saw his attempt at lobbing Carroll land just over the bar and onto the roof of the net.

On 55 minutes Kevin Nicholls was introduced to the proceedings for only the second time season as he replaced Jeff Peron.

Injury has sidelined the former Charlton Athletic star and it's been a long hard struggle for the young lad in his bid for recovery.

Let's hope that he is finally fit and that his presence on the field can help in Latics' quest for promotion.

Around ten minutes later at the other end of the field dead ball expert Neil Redfearn drove a free kick from 25 yards out and keeper Wright did well to save at the near post.

Five minutes later Oxford were awarded a free kick which Jamie Cook floated into the area finding Murphy only for his header to fly over the bar.

With a little over twenty minutes remaining Haworth was chopped down in the penalty area by Oxford defender Mark Watson but referee Dowd waved play on much to the disbelief of angry Latics fans.

A word of note about the incident: As Haworth was brought down in the area and the resulting protests from the fans, the rest of the Wigan squad, who were not on manager John Benson's team sheet and sat high up in the West Stand, were spotted heads down, laughing away at their copies of Cockney Latic. Is that a compliment for the fanzine or an indication at how interesting the action was on the pitch?

Oxford also had a penalty appeal turned down after Jemson fell in the area and turned to the Stoke official in vain, hoping to see him point to the spot.

As the game drew to a close Oxford valiantly pushed forward in a bid to rescue something in their relegation battle but deep into stoppage time it was put completely out of their reach.

Neil Redfearn slotted a beautiful ball through the middle, splitting the Oxford defence.

Simon Haworth chased through unmarked and keeper Wright raced off his line in an attempt to beat the Welshman to the ball.

Wright did, in fact, win that race by the narrowest of margins, only to completely miss the ball in his attempt at a clearance.

HAWORTH rounded the keeper and tapped in his second goal of the match, and his fourth against Oxford this season.

The result saw Wigan close the gap on Preston and pull clear of Bristol Rovers as both only managed draws.

A win at Boundary Park on Tuesday night would see them within two points of Preston North End and the top of Divsion Two.

Full Time: Wigan 2 Oxford 0