On the road, Malky Mackay's Latics are a different proposition, we found this out on Boxing Day. However despite two successive away-victories Wigan were pegged back in their own back-yard by a rare moment of brilliance in a scrappy game courtesy of Alex Mowatt's stunning 51st minute strike his 8th of the season with Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers a watching brief.

Sam Byram was not in the squad, I spotted Liam Cooper happily signing autographs and posing for selfies on the way in bad the former Hull player would not be involved either. Steve Morison took Byram's place on the right and a rare start was handed at left-back to Gaetano Beradi, enabling Charlie Taylor to forage forward.

Our former goalkeeper Scott Carson was between the posts for the Latics. Another player with Leeds connections, Jermaine Pennant started for Wigan but was replaced at half-time by Don Cowie. Jason Pearce is a player who has more recent connections at Elland Road and obviously his transfer in January wasn't subject to a so-called "embarassment clause" where a new-signing cannot turn out against his old club for the remainder of that season. Maybe Neil Redfearn's opinion of Pearce was one he shared with many Leeds fans, that he would be more of a liability than a bonus for the relegation strugglers.indeed Pearce left the pitch with just a yellow-card in anything but a satisfying reunion with his old team-mates.

Both sets of supporters seemed to be more interested in Dave Whelan's farewell speech than the first-half offering on show. Mr Whelan announced he was stepping down as Chairman last Tuesday after 20 largely successful years. He intends to remain the club owner and attend as many matches as possible, but if Wigan do pull off a miracle and stay up I doubt this fixture next season would be high on his list! On a difficult pitch showing the ravages of a long-season and the start of Super League, I fail to recall an occasion in the first-half where Silvestri or Carson were troubled. Many in the away end, myself included thought Carson should have been saving a penalty kick when Gaetan Bong smashed into Billy Sharp, something I'd not seen on a Saturday afternoon since Kent Walton, Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks retired from the Wrestling ring.

Before Mowatt's winner on 51, Leeds had opened the second-half on the back-foot, Wigan had their own shout for a penalty ignored when they argued Bellusci handled under pressure from Cowie. Silvestri pulled off a good save from Jsmes MacLean, the Derry-born Wigan forward who was being berated by a man stood behind me with a thick Ulster accent. This was probably due to the player's refusal to wear a Poppy Shirt around Remeberance Sunday.

The goal was pretty special because Mowatt scored from long-range on his right so I thought but my recollection may have been clouded by the delirium which broke out amongst the 5000 travelling Leeds fans who had already made more noise than the hosts who manly relied on a drum to generate any atmosphere. Re-Reading Phil Hay's YEP twitter feed it was on his left but he finished a brilliant passing move with a stunning strike, his 8th of the campaign.

It was a goal worthy to win any game, however it stung Wigan into a response and according to Mackay his team peppered 19 shots at the Leeds goal. "That's why you're going down" boomed the away fans when Maclean failed to connect on the end of Fortunes cross. Two minutes later Silvesti saved again from the Irishman. One minute later, another Wigan chance when begging when Fortune cut back and neither Ojo or Mackean could connect.nKim then hit a volley which smashed into Mclean and the former Sunderland man convinced us all he'd equalised but his shot smashed into the side netting.

Fortune fluffed another chance on 75 and been aerially a Wigan were proving not much threat,Perch heading over Cowies cross. Even with the advantage of seven minutes injury time owing to a lengthy Steve Morison injury we held on and McLean and the Wiganers just knew it was not going to be their day when Silvestri tipped over his shot and Leeds held on for what I believe is our first win at the DW Stadium.

Photo: Action Images

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