Report by John Patrick Heeley

Peterborough failed to topple Wigan at the ninth time of asking in the league, but it took a solitary goal from Wigan midfielder Ian Kilford to separate the two sides. The win moves Latics up to fifth position in the league.

Latics fans and players alike must have gone into this game expecting a landslide victory following the excellent performance at the weekend. More of the same was the call from the Wigan faithful. A victory they asked for, and a victory they got, but the performance on the field was not exactly the same flavour as the weekend's demolition of Colchester.

Wigan started the game with the same starting line up as began the game at the JJB last weekend, as predicted (for once), and began to dominate the game, although no clear cut chances were created.

Both sides had chances to go in front but nothing that you would run home and tell your wife about (my wife wouldn't listen if Pele had run naked onto the pitch and banged it in form 50 yards).

On 6 minutes Francis Green for Peterborough tried his luck from all of 30 yards out but fired well over the bar and wasted the Cambridgeshire side's positional advantage.

Two minutes later last Saturday's hat-trick hero Simon Haworth layed a short ball back to transfer-listed Brian McLaughlin on the left side of the area, the former Celtic player put a cross into the box but Peterborough keeper Tyler collected easily.

Wigan continued to push forward and within minutes Kevin Sharp placed a ball into the box but Jelleyman knovked the ball out for a corner before Haworth could steal in at the far post.

Haworth and Liddell both had reasonable opportunities in the next five minutes but that finishing touch just eluded them both before Brian McLaughlin fired a shot way over the bar and into the North Stand from the edge of the area.

Forsyth, for the visiting side, launched a shot from 30 yards or so but fired well over the bar.

On the half hour mark, following a scramble on the edge of Peterborough's penalty area, Andy Liddell bugled the ball well over the bar and into the Family Enclosure behind the goal, and within minutes Liddell himself was unlucky after Haworth at knocked the ball down to his feet but his first time shot went sailing wide.

The first booking of the night came on 39 minutes after Kevin Sharp had attempted to battle his way through two Peterborough players. His run was cut short by Forsyth who received a yellow card for his trouble.

The second yellow fell Wigan's way minutes later when McGibbon was called back for a silly foul.

HALF TIME: Wigan 0 Peterborough 0

The second half started with more purpose and determination from both sides and on 53 minutes last season's Player of the Season for Peterborough Andy Clarke found himself unmarked on the edge of the Wigan area but blasted his shot into the side netting.

Six minutes later Wigan pushed forward and Liddell put Kilford though just inside the Peterborough area but the midfielder couldn't quite get a hold on the ball and the danger was cleared by the defence.

On 72 minutes Martinez earned a corner kick which was scambled out but put back into the area and Pat McGibbon found himself with the ball, didn't quite control it properly and his effort two yards out was blocked well by the keeper.

Two minutes later following some nice passing through the Wigan midfield, Wigan scored the decisive goal, and won a certain Latics steward a nice earner - 45/1 Wigan 1-0 and Kilford the goalscorer (cheers for the beers Steve).

Haworth flicked the ball onto KILFORD who took it forwared to lob the ball over the oncoming Tyler and into the back of the net.

Within a minute of the restart Peterborough manager Barry Fry threw his cards into the ring and made all three of his allowed substitutions and put fresh legs onto the field in a bid to pull something back from the game but the single goal from Kilford was enough to send Wigan to their second succesive victory in four days and Peterborough their second defeat.

Peterborough looked out of sorts for the majority of the game but lone striker, former Wimbledon and Barnet hitman Andy Clarke, did look dangerous in phases and they could easily have clawed a draw out of the tie.

A victory is a victory and three points is all that matters at the end of the day but tonight was exactly the sort of non-inspiring performance that we came to expect for the a large part of last season. But who's going to complain. Wigan now move upto fifth in the table and are gradually establishing themselves as worthy of the favourites label bestowed on them by the bookmakers.

Highlight of the night for me was the performance of Brian McLaughlin, who has had his name circulated as available for transfer but since his call up to the senior squad has been playing out of his skin.

A little bird has told Cockney Latic however, that Rioch is ready to exchange the Scot for Ayr United's Glynn Hurst (who is apparantely on trial with Latics) plus £250,000. We'll wait and see but wherever he ends up they'll be getting a decent, hardworking player.

FINAL SCORE: Wigan 1 Peterborough 0