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Teams

• Sunderland
• Wigan Athletic

Players

• Jason Roberts

Wigan cast Sunderland adrift at the foot of the table, as Jason Roberts' early penalty secured a 1-0 win for Paul Jewell's men.

The battle of the two promoted clubs went the way of Wigan thanks to a first-minute goal, as Gary Breen felled Roberts in the box and the striker made him pay by coolly slotting home the spot kick.

With Wigan claiming the victory, Sunderland are now the only team in The Premiership without a point to their name and it is threatening to be a long season for The Black Cats.

Sunderland's hopes of weathering an early storm were dashed just 15 seconds in, as Breen, after failing to clear a hopeful long ball, stuck out a leg in the box and this was the perfect invitation for Roberts to tumble to the ground.

Referee Steve Bennett had no doubt that an offence had been committed and Roberts dusted himself down before tucking the spot kick into the bottom corner.

The goal sparked Sunderland into life rather than Wigan and only two timely interventions from Stephane Henchoz prevented The Black Cats from netting an equaliser.

The Swiss stopper showed tremendous courage to throw himself in front of a Jon Stead shot on the six-yard line, while moments later the former Liverpool man was on hand to hack an Alan Stubbs header from underneath his own crossbar.

Sunderland continued to probe, with Andy Welsh and Dean Whitehead thorns in the side of the Wigan backline, but Mike Pollitt was the equal of the aerial bombardment.

The bulk of the visitors' chances continued to fall to Stead, but he twice saw Pollitt make saves. The second chance was more clear-cut, with the beanpole striker failing to convince from six yards as Pollitt was able to push his effort round the post.

Pollitt also did well to deny Welsh and Whitehead, who had both made forceful runs from deep, while at the other end Jimmy Bullard kept the Sunderland back four on their toes when firing in a curling shot which was well saved by Kelvin Davies.

New recruit Pascal Chimbonda was always willing to raid down the flank and his attacking instincts almost garnered a goal on the half-hour, but his headed effort from a fine cross from fellow full back Leighton Baines flew narrowly wide.

Both sides came out after the interval with attacking intent, but the desire did not make up for the lack of cutting edge and quality as the two teams cancelled each other out.

A moment of opportunism from Graham Kavanagh almost gave Wigan a cushion, as he produced a dipping volley from 25 yards which fortunately for The Black Cats went straight at Davis.

Wigan retreated into their shell and allowed Sunderland to dominate possession, but they were still a threat on the break and Roberts typified this with a snap-shot from the edge of the box which forced Davis into a sharp low save.

Sunderland pushed Wigan further back in the final 15 minutes and had the ball in the net, but substitute Andy Gray had strayed fractionally offside in collecting Anthony Le Tallec's neat pass.

As Mick McCarthy's men committed bodies forward, gaps appeared at the back and Alan Mahon almost made Tommy Miller pay for squandering possession but his deflected shot cannonned off the post.

Sunderland failed to find the breakthrough in injury time, despite camping themselves in the Wigan box, and The Latics were able to claim their first ever victory in The Premiership.

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Wigan Athletic	Team Name	Sunderland
1	Goals	0
4	Shots on target ( Inc Goals )	4
6	Shots off Target (inc woodwork)	2
2	Blocked Shots	3
0	Corners Won	6
12	Total Fouls Conceded	15
2	Offsides	4
3	Yellow Cards	3
0	Red Cards	0
60%	Possession	40%