Newcastle v Wigan: Key Moments

By Dan King - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Newcastle United 3 (Ba 13, 21, Bigirimana 71)
Wigan Athletic 0

SECOND HALF UPDATES

 90+4mins: It's full-time and United's losing run has ended. Maynor Figueroa's early red card certainly helped matters but Newcastle were impressive a dominated, looking likely winners from the moment Demba Ba put them ahead from the spot. His second goal made certain and Gael Bigirimana put the icing on the cake with a wonderful first goal for the club. It's a big three points for the Magpies.

90+2mins: Lovely play from Arouna Kouna, probably Wigan's most dangerous player, sees him spin inside the box and try a little dink from a tight angle, but it goes into the side-netting.

90+1mins: Neat build-up from the Magpies presents Ameobi with a shooting opportunity but he drags his shot from 18 yards wide of the goal.

90mins: Ferguson twists Stam this way and that before sending over a low cross which is slightly behind Cisse but still allows the frontman to get a shot away from 12 yards. It's weak, though, and too close to Al-Habsi. There will be four minutes of stoppage time.

86mins: Demba Ba needs treatment and after being patched up by physio David Henderson, he goes down the tunnel - there's no need to risk him now even if it does men both sides have ten players for the final few minutes.

 83mins: Latics youngster Callum McManaman comes on for Di Santo in Wigan's third change.

 77mins: Straight away, Ameobi earns himself a booking - he tugged Stam's shirt and it was a deserved yellow card by the letter of the law.

 76mins: A third and final change for the Magpies - Sammy Ameobi is on for Jonas Gutierrez in what is effectively a straight swap.

 71mins - NEWCASTLE GOAL (3-0): Make that a three goal lead - Gael Bigirimana has his first goal for Newcastle and what a strike it is too. Marveaux played the ball to him on the edge of the area and he took a touch before curling an unstoppable left-footed effort into the top corner. He's been bright since coming on and now those watching on television all over the world will see what United fans already know - the 19-year-old is some player.

69mins: Bigirimana and Ba combine well to tee up Cisse, but the Senegalese striker's shot from the edge of the box goes well over the bar. The game has slowed considerably but United won't mind taking the sting out of this and protecting their two-goal lead.

 67mins: After a crunching tackle by Ferguson on Di Santo, the Argentine is booked - presumably for something he said to Mike Jones as he received treatment following the hard but fair challenge from the United youngster.

59mins: A fantastic ball from Anita finds Cisse racing towards goal and he lets fly from just outside the box but blazes over. It was wonderful vision and execution from Anita, though, who continues to look like he's now getting to grips with the Barclays Premier League.

56mins: Marveaux embarks upon a Hatem Ben Arfa-style run through the centre, leaving three players in his wake before picking out Bigirimana with an intelligent pass. The 19-year-old, still searching for his first strike in black and white, goes for goal and Al-Habsi parries his shot away from danger.

52mins: A wriggling run from Marveaux ends in a low strike from 18 yards which is just too close to Al-Habsi - either side of the keeper and it could have been a third goal.

 50mins: Santon, who has been hugely impressive again, is forced off with what looks like an injury to his groin - let's hope that's not another addition to the treatment table for Alan Pardew's men. Shane Ferguson replaces him at left-back.

48mins: Di Santo shoots well wide for the visitors as they try to force a way back into the game - an early goal for them would certainly set Newcastle nerves jangling.

46mins: There's a half-time substitute for each side - Cheick Tiote, who looked to have picked up a knock is replaced, is replaced by Gael Bigirimana while Wigan take off Gary Caldwell, who is lucky to still be on the pitch, and bring on Adrian Lopez.

FIRST HALF UPDATES

45+2mins: Jones' whistle blows and Newcastle's bid to avoid a fifth successive league defeat is going well - they lead 2-0 thanks to a Demba Ba brace and their opponents are down to ten men.

45mins: There will be two minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first period.

42mins: Di Santo tries a speculative effort from nearly 30 yards out but it swerves away from goal and Newcastle are more or less in control of this match. A third goal would kill the visitors off.

37mins: Jonas Gutierrez plays the ball to Tiote in a central position, 25 yards from goal, and the Ivorian's dipping shot is not far away - it drops just over the bar with Al-Habsi back-tracking furiously just in case.

36mins: Caldwell is lucky to escape without a second yellow card after mistimed challenge on Ba just outside the area - if Figueroa's was a little harsh, the Latics will be very grateful that referee Jones chose only to give him a final warning and Marveaux's free-kick curls just the wrong side of the far post.

34mins: Al-Habsi touches a low, left-footed strike from Sylvain Marveaux behind for a corner after a strong, direct run from the Frenchman. Alas, his right-wing flag-kick is cleared.

33mins: Tonight's attendance is 43,858 including 279 travelling supporters - by some distance United's lowest home league gate of the season.

 30mins: A second Wigan yellow card of the evening to add to Figueroa's red - former Newcastle youngster Gary Caldwell tries to win the ball from Ba but comes in from behind and fails to get a touch, leaving Mike Jones with no option but to book him.

28mins: Anita sends an effort from 22 yards out wide - he had a go from the left-hand angle of the but couldn't trouble Al-Habsi.

 22mins: While the Geordies celebrate, one Jordi is feeling low - Wigan's Gomez is replaced by James McArthur in a tactical change for the Latics which Roberto Martinez was going to make before Ba doubled United's lead.

 21mins: NEWCASTLE GOAL: Ba has his second and won't score an easier goal all season. Davide Santon went on a great run upfield and hit a great shot from 25 yards after cutting inside. Al-Habsi parried it but straight to the Magpies' leading scorer, who now has ten for the campaign.

19mins: Jordi Gomez, who hit a hat-trick for Wigan in their win over Reading last month, is off target here and he sends a weak 20-yard effort wide of Krul's far post.

16mins: Ba creates some space just outside the box but skews his shot wide - nonetheless, Newcastle look hungry for more goals after taking the lead here.

 13mins - NEWCASTLE GOAL: Al-Habsi goes the right way but Ba's spot-kick goes past him - Newcastle are a goal up and a man up. Jean Beausejour is booked for continuing his protests after the ball goes in.

 12mins: Newcastle win a penalty - and it's a red card for Maynor Figueroa! Lovely football from the Magpies sees Anita slide in Demba Ba, who in turn slips the ball towards Papiss Cisse who is charged off the ball by the Wigan defender. He's shown a straight red as he was the last man and denied a goalscoring opportunity. It looked a bit harsh but Alan Pardew won't be complaining after some of the luck that has gone against United recently.

8mins: A left-wing corner from Vurnon Anita causes a few problems for the Latics, who scramble the ball away but remain penned into their own half by the Magpies. Alas, United fail to carve out a chance from a sustained spell of pressure but the fans show their appreciation for the high-tempo efforts of their side.

6mins: Now a cross from the left is headed partially clear by Fabricio Coloccini but only as far as Ronnie Stam, who lets fly from 25 yards but sees his shot go some way over the bar. Both sides have had shots on goal already in an open start to this match, which is good news for the neutrals watching on Sky Sports.

4mins: From a short free-kick after a foul by Tiote, Franco di Santo forces Tim Krul into a good save. The ball was moved quickly by the Latics, who found the Argentine striker on the edge of the area; he sent a powerful effort towards goal but the keeper dived to his left to push it away from danger.

 1min: Newcastle and Wigan get tonight's televised match underway under the St. James' Park floodlights. The Magpies, on the back of four successive defeats, are in black and white while the Latics are in their all-red third kit - it's the first time they've worn it as their change kit is black and could have clashed. It's United who take kick-off but they'll attack towards the Gallowgate end in the first period, rather than the second period as is their preference. A fizzing early drive from Cheick Tiote flies just wide with Ali Al-Habsi at full stretch - it was almost a dream start for Alan Pardew's men.

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Tim Krul; Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Davide Santon (Shane Ferguson 50); Vurnon Anita, Cheick Tiote (Gael Bigirimana 46); Papiss Cisse, Sylvain Marveaux, Jonas Gutierrez (Sammy Ameobi 76); Demba Ba

Subs not used: Steve Harper, James Tavernier, Nile Ranger, Shola Ameobi

Wigan Athletic (3-4-3): Ali Al Habsi; Emmerson Boyce, Gary Caldwell (c) (Adrian Lopez 46), Maynor Figueroa; Ronnie Stam, James McCarthy, David Jones, Jean Beausejour; Arouna Kone, Franco Di Santo (Callum McManaman 83), Jordi Gomez (James McArthur 22)

Subs not used: Mike Pollitt, Roman Golobart, Fraser Fyvie, Mauro Boselli

Referee: Mike Jones

Attendance: 43,858