Match Report: Newcastle United 3-0 Wigan Athletic

It was a game which, from a Wigan point of view there isn't much to talk about. Gary Caldwell was rushed back into the line-up and had a very very poor game. You could tell he was unfit and out of practice and those kind of players we can't do with right now, anyone coming back has to be a 100%.

As it was, the former Newcastle trainee, wasn't the man to make the mistakes, that job was Maynor Figueroa's. After a solid first 10 minutes where it looked like both teams could cancel each other out, his shoulder charger was deemed a penalty and a red card was bestowed upon the Honduran.

Down to ten, and down a goal. Demba Ba would lift the spirits of the Newcastle fans as he converted the penalty confidently. Lucky for him it was well it, as Ali Al Habsi guessed right, and was agonizingly close to the ball. But that goal sparked Newcastle into life, they knew they didn't have to chase the game, and took comfortable control.

Their lead was doubled on 21 minutes, when again Ba scored. David Santo's strike was drilled hard at Al Habsi, who managed to palm the ball away, only for Ba to follow up and score for Newcastle. We could of had a romp on our hands, yet Wigan are made of tougher stuff and we pulled together.

It was a case now of trying to hold out and keep the goal difference down, we weren't going to score two now. To sum that up, on came James McArthur for Jordi Gomez to solidify the midfield as the team went into a 4-3-2 formation to hold tight at the back and try and hit them on the counter.

It was a first half to Newcastle as the dominated the ball with their extra man and teased the Wigan players with their comfort. Absolute torture, and it was unlikely that the second half would be any better. One change was made by Latics, the solid Adrian Lopez was brought on for a Gary Caldwell who had been dire all first half.

The second half was a bit more solid, we started to pass a bit more and work a bit harder. The substitution had made us more solid defensively, but we were pretty poor going forward. Both Arouna Kone and Franco Di Santo looked out of ideas and out of hope.

One star was Ronnie Stamm, the wing back has been fantastic for us this term when called upon. This time round he was looking to push the team when going forward and was doing really well. Getting to the byline and cutting the ball back looking for players in the box. Unfortunately for Latics none was there to get on the end of the balls fired in by Stamm.

Instead it would be Newcastle who would add to the score line scoring a third goal. The teenage midfielder Bigirimana cut in from the right hand side and curled the ball with his left foot curled the ball away from Ali Al Habsi, a great finish by the young player, no chance for the keeper.

Newcastle were happy and settled down, Wigan pushed a little put were looking to hold on to the three goals we had already conceded.

So a bunch of Geordies went home happy, while a group of Wiganers have to wonder who will play against QPR with our rapidly reducing squad.