Latics respond with victory

Kirkland: Joy at win

Man of the Match: Hugo Rodallega. The Colombian striker thrived when he was moved to centre-forward after Jason Scotland was brought off and made no mistake when handed a clear chance by Sunderland.

Save of the Match: Marton Fulop saved centre-back Michael Turner's blushes when he managed to claw his errant header round the post after a Rodallega free-kick.

Miss of the Match: Jason Scotland should really have put Wigan in the lead when he smashed against the post from a Charles N'Zogbia pull-back. He was under pressure and slightly off balance but was expected to hit the back of the net.

Talking Point: Rodallega was given a new lease of life when moved into a central position after Scotland was substituted. Is it time to bring an end to the Colombian's days out on the wing?

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Wigan bounced back from their White Hart Lane hammering by grabbing a 1-0 win over Sunderland thanks to a Hugo Rodallega strike.

Steve Bruce was left empty-handed on his return to the DW Stadium as the Black Cats could not find the inspiration that saw them upset Arsenal last Saturday.

Marton Fulop was forced into a brilliant save early on in order to prevent Michael Turner from heading into his own net after a free-kick from Rodallega.

The best chance of a drab first half fell to Jason Scotland, who powered a shot against the foot of the post after being played in by Charles N'Zogbia.

The Latics finally broke the deadlock with less than 15 minutes remaining when Rodallega took advantage of a slip by Paulo da Silva to slot beyond Fulop into the net.

Wigan are now unbeaten in their last five home matches while the Black Cats have won just one of their last 17 away league games.

Manager Roberto Martinez's players, watched by chairman Dave Whelan, seemed to respond to the Spaniard's call for commitment after the humiliation against Spurs.

Chances

They had two early half-chances inside the opening eight minutes, Rodallega diverting N'Zogbia's cross into the side-netting and Paul Scharner shooting low at goalkeeper Fulop.

At the other end, Emmerson Boyce produced a perfectly-judged tackle to deny England international Darren Bent just as he looked certain to score past goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.

Midway through the half Wigan were unlucky not to take the lead when N'Zogbia dispossessed Paulo da Silva on the right of the penalty area and crossed for Scotland to hit a first-time shot which beat Fulop but rebounded back off the post.

Turner was booked on the half-hour for going through the back of Scharner and the Black Cats centre-back's blushes were then spared by Fulop.

The goalkeeper produced a brilliant finger-tip save to tip his team-mate's header from Rodallega's inswinging free-kick around the upright.

George McCarthy was next to almost score an own goal as he thrashed Rodallega's centre over the crossbar.

Bruce replaced midfielder Steed Malbranque with striker Fraizer Campbell at half-time and the substitution appeared to have the desired effect.

Five minutes after the restart, Andy Reid's shot clipped Hendry Thomas to dip just over the crossbar and from the corner Bardsley's ambitious long-range effort was also deflected wide.

Bent had a chance to put his side ahead in the 54th minute from Reid's hanging ball to the far post but he mis-directed his header back across goal and outside the post.

Change

Martinez immediately replaced Scotland with Jordi Gomez, pushing Rodallega into a central position.

The Spanish midfielder's 62nd-minute cross almost created the opening goal when he picked out Titus Bramble, but the central defender headed straight at Fulop.

Rodallega forced a low save from Fulop after Scharner lifted the ball over the defence and then fired wide from N'Zogbia's lay-off.

Campbell's mis-kick inside the six-yard area from Reid's cross then let Wigan off the hook after he had done well to control the cross.

And the Black Cats were made to pay in the 76th minute when Scharner's ball forward put Rodallega up against Da Silva.

The Paraguay international made a mess of his challenge, falling to the floor, and the Wigan striker skipped past him to roll a left-footed shot past Fulop from a tight angle and into the far corner.

Rodallega had the chance to put the game to bed in the 83rd minute but side-footed straight at the Sunderland keeper.

There were some more frantic exchanges late on but Wigan held on through four minutes of added time to record their first clean sheet since September 12.