Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan go second in the table thanks to a magnificent strike by Andy Liddell during time added on in the first half.

Latics manager Bruce Rioch had earlier in the week criticised his strike force for not scoring 'simple tap-ins' but he couldn't be more happy at Liddell's 35 yard winner.

Wigan went into this game after only scoring once in their last three outings, despite remaining undefeated and Northampton Town in retrospect had won their previous three including away wins at Luton and Millwall, but history soon went out of the window.

It took less than two minutes for Wigan to take the advantage following a Liddell ball through to Kilford who sneakily passed it square to HAWORTH and the big Welshman looped the ball around keeper Welch in the Northampton goal to put Latics 1-0 up.

Less than 3 minutes later Wigan were again on the attack as the home side attempted to stamp their authority on the game with Liddell's half-volley attempt sailing marginally over the bar.

The first threat on Wigan's goal came in the 8th minute when they also booted over the woodwork from a free kick.

Moments later Kevin Sharp disposessed Northampton's Howard on the half way line only to be chopped down from behind resulting in a free kick and a booking for the Cobbler's number 9.

Wigan continued their assualt on the Cobblers' goal and on 10 minutes Haworth could have doubled his tally but his effort after a clever through ball from Liddell went sailing over the bar which he did again minutes later.

Haworth, yet again, had an opportunity to increase Latics' advantage in the 20th minute when he was put through on goal but his tame shot on goal trickled wide of the mark.

Northampton then went on the march forward and a long punt forward proved difficult for Roy Carroll who fumbled his clearance, the ball dropping down to Northampton's John Hodge and the resulting tangle found The Cobblers being awarded a penalty.

HENDON stepped up and calmly placed the ball down the middle to equalise sending Carroll to his left.

In the 36th minute Simon Haworth put a lovely ball down the middle from just inside the Northampton half but Liddell couldn't quite take advantage under challenge from the Northampton defence and the ball was recovered by the keeper.

Wigan's barrage on the Northampton goal continued and midfielder Kevin Nicolls went agonisingly close on 40 minutes to putting Latics back in front when his drive from 30 yards out beat the keeper only for the upright to deny him and the Wigan attack couldn't quite capitalise on the loose ball.

With many fans making their way to the bar Latics scored what was to be the decisive goal. The ball was played about midway inside the Northampton half and LIDDELL, who had been publicly criticised by manager Bruce Rioch for his lack of goalscoring in midweek, unleashed a fearful shot from almost 40 yards out and beat the keeper hands down, the ball landing in the top right hand corner of the net.

Half Time: Wigan 2 Northampton 1

The second half started quietly with Wigan content with their one goal advantage and attacking didn't seem a priority for Latics and the first real action of any description came just after the hour mark when scuffling broke out on the half way line between the two sides.

Within a minute Kilford was denied by the Northampton defence before no 8 for Northampton shot narrowly wide of goal with Carroll at full stretch.

On 70 minutes Haworth received a long ball, flicked it over, stepped forward but his strike from edge of area was well collected by Welch.

Wigan's first substitution of the game came a minute later after de Zeeuw broke free with the ball from defence, playing a one-two with Liddell but the Scottish striker picked up a nasty knock as he returned the ball and was replaced by Neil Roberts.

In the 76th minute Haworth went close to adding a 3rd for Latics after Roberts had nodded a long ball down to him, before the former Coventry player let strike with the ball only for the Northampton keeper to dive well to deny Wigan.

Northampton fans disgraced themselves in the closing moments, fighting with the Wigan stewards over in the East Stand, and then throwing a volley of abuse at Wigan's Family Enclosure (YES full of kids). The trouble spilled out onto the pitch causing the referee to stop the action until order was restored.

Northampton fired well over the bar in the 88th minute but Wigan held on to collect three points and move them upto second in the table.

FINAL SCORE: Wigan 2 Northampton 1