Wigan Athletic

Fifa allows Webster to join Wigan
Fifa has given the green light for defender Andy Webster's historic move from Hearts to Wigan Athletic. The Scotland centre-half had to wait for ratification after freeing himself early from his Hearts contract, using a loophole in a Fifa-adopted EU law. Webster, 24, invoked article 17 of Fifa's rules governing transfers, which allowed him to join a club outside Scotland if adequate notice was given. \"I am relieved this issue is now almost resolved,\" said Wigan boss Paul Jewell. \"It has taken many long hours of negotiation for Andrew to become a player at this club, but I'm convinced all the hard work will be worth it once the supporters see him play.\" Webster's move looks likely to set a legal precedent for the way transfers are conducted. Fifa now allows players in the third year of a four-year deal to join a club in another country. Webster had to hand in his notice within 15 days of the end of the season to comply with the regulation. The player handed in his notice at Hearts at the end of last season and Wigan moved in, registering the transfer a month ago, but had to wait for the go-ahead from Fifa. A forthcoming hearing will decide on a transfer fee, but the rule suggests that Hearts would only receive the player's annual wage by way of compensation, not the £2m transfer fee they want. Webster was frozen out for the latter part of last season after refusing to extend his Hearts contract. He had not played for the club since April and failed to report for the pre-season tour of Austria, despite being warned he would never play for Hearts again. Webster said: \" I'm delighted my clearance has come through and I'm now looking forward to making my debut in the English Premiership whenever I'm selected by the manager.\"

Portsmouth v Wigan
Pedro Mendes will return for Portsmouth 16 days after being knocked unconscious by Ben Thatcher at Manchester City. Glen Johnson and Lomana LuaLua are also back in the squad after ankle injuries, but Roudolphe Douala is the only deadline-day signing set to figure. Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is fit to play after suffering from sciatica. Striker Svetoslav Todorov is ineligible under league loaning rules, and with Henri Camara and Lee McCulloch doubts David Cotterill may be handed a debut. Portsmouth (from): James, Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Stefanovic, O'Neil, Mendes, Davis, Taylor, Kanu, Mwaruwari, Douala, Thompson, Pamarot, Hughes, O'Brien, LuaLua, Cole, Koroman, Kiely. Wigan (from): Kirkland, Jackson, Hall, De Zeeuw, Camara, Johansson, Heskey, McCulloch, Landzaat, Boyce, Scharner, Skoko, Baines, Cotteril, Cywka, Webster, Valencia, Pollitt.

Portsmouth 1-0 Wigan
Benjani Mwaruwari's sharp finish earned Portsmouth victory over Wigan to maintain his side's unbeaten record. The Zimbabwe striker stole in behind a static defence to fire across Chris Kirkland for the game's only goal. Neither goalkeeper was required to make a save in a poor first half dominated by defences. Pompey sub Lomano LuaLua struck the outside of a post, but David James preserved Pompey's lead with a superb save from Luis Antonio Valencia. Portsmouth midfielder Pedro Mendes returned to action 14 days after being laid out by Manchester City defender Ben Thatcher's horror challenge. Wigan threatened to breach Pompey's defence for the first time this season when keeper Chris Kirkland's long punt was flicked on by Emile Heskey for Henri Camara to hook over the bar. At the other end, Glen Johnson squirmed between two defenders to whip in a wicked cross that Sean Davis just failed to reach. Wigan certainly asked plenty of questions of the Pompey defence early on as they found the width to work in a succession of crosses but Sol Campbell and Linvoy Primus were rock-solid as they dealt with them. Likewise, former Fratton favourite Arjan de Zeeuw marshalled Wigan's back line and Pompey found it difficult to make headway. With both defences holding a high line to compress play, time and space were at a premium in midfield, but Wigan's on-loan Ecuadorean Valencia showed some neat touches to suggest he will cope with the demands of the Premiership. Primus's foul on Camara gave Wigan a sight of goal but Danny Landzaat slammed the free-kick into the wall and the first half ended with neither keeper required to make a save. Former England colleagues Campbell and Heskey had been involved in a good first-half battle and Campbell proved the winner four minutes into the second half to set up Portsmouth's opener. Campbell's towering defensive header caught the Wigan defence on their heels and Benjani nipped behind Fitz Hall to clip the ball over the advancing Kirkland's dive for his second goal of the season. Heskey got the better of Campbell as Wigan sought an immediate reply, holding the ball up well before rolling it into the path of Camara who wastefully blasted over. Gary O'Neil should have doubled Portsmouth's lead when a long throw glanced off Paul Scharner's head but from six yards out the midfielder placed his header straight at a grateful Kirkland. James caused a flutter in Pompey hearts when he spilled Landzaat's half-hit shot but he had time to gather at the second attempt. Pompey failed to dominate after taking the lead and needed Johnson to rescue them as he scraped Heskey's header off the line. LuaLua rolled a shot against the outside of the post but James produced an outstanding save as he arched up to claw away Valencia's dipping shot, to preserve his fourth clean sheet of the season. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp: \"The first goal was going to be important and I thought they were more capable of grabbing it and I was grateful we went in at half-time level. \"But it's a squad game nowadays and although we won at Middlesbrough I changed a winning team. \"It's been a great start and it's given us a good platform and if we have a bad run it will stand us in good stead.\" Wigan manager Paul Jewell: \"I'm naturally disappointed with the result but I'm pleased with the performance, we dominated most of the game. \"We're a new team with players settling into the side, and it's important we take heart from the display. \"I think we were the better side and should have won, but we didn't pick the right pass in the final third.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Stefanovic (Pamarot 66), O'Neil, Davis, Pedro Mendes (Thompson 86), Taylor, Mwaruwari, Kanu (LuaLua 76). Subs Not Used: Kiely, Koroman. Goals: Mwaruwari 49. Wigan: Kirkland, Boyce, De Zeeuw, Hall, Baines, Valencia, Scharner, Landzaat, Teale (Cotterill 78), Heskey, Camara (Johansson 90). Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Jackson, Skoko. Booked: Hall. Att: 19,508 Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire).

Everton v Wigan
Everton are set to be unchanged after their unbeaten start to the season. Tim Cahill will keep his support role behind Andy Johnson with James McFadden out, while in defence Alan Stubbs is still recovering from a knee injury. Kevin Kilbane will make his debut for Wigan at his former club and Svetoslav Todorov may also make a first start. Striker Todorov is on standby should Henri Camara fail to pass a fitness test on his hamstring. Lee McCulloch is struggling with a knee injury. Everton (from): Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Naysmith, Osman, Carsley, Neville, Arteta, Cahill, Johnson, Wright, Davies, Valente, Beattie, Weir, Van der Meyde, Anichebe. Wigan from: Kirkland, Boyce, De Zeeuw, Hall, Baines, Valencia, Scharner, Landzaat, Teale, Heskey, Camara, Todorov, Kilbane, Cotterill, Johansson, Jackson, Skoko, Pollitt. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Everton manager David Moyes: \"Andy Johnson has made a good start, but Gary Lineker was a hell of a goalscorer, a top England striker, and Andy has a long way to go to be compared with that. \"I hope he goes on to achieve what Gary did, but I don't want to put too much burden on him. \"There is no doubt Andy is helping us to be better than we were last season.\" Wigan boss Paul Jewell: \"We know of Everton's strengths. They're very good at the moment. \"It will be a tough game for us - but we are looking forward to every game. We are meeting all the teams at the moment when they are flying high. \"The game will have a bit of a local derby feel to it.\"

Everton 2-2 Wigan
Wigan came from behind twice to earn a battling point at Everton. Everton's Andrew Johnson hammered home his fifth goal of the season from close range after 49 minutes. Paul Scharner's header put Wigan level, but James Beattie edged Everton ahead again from the spot in the 66th minute after Gary Teale fouled Leon Osman. But Wigan, who were grateful to keeper Chris Kirkland for two brilliant saves from Osman, were quickly on terms again thanks to a sweeping Scharner finish. Everton were unchanged as they attempted to build on the 3-0 Merseyside derby win against Liverpool. And they made a lively start, with in-form Johnson once again the danger man, firing in a shot that was blocked by Kirkland. Lee Carsley then headed Tim Cahill's cross wide before the Australian was involved in an incident that saw two Wigan players given yellow cards by referee Alan Wiley. Cahill chased keeper Tim Howard's long clearance into the penalty area, but Kirkland and Arjen de Zeeuw reacted angrily to his challenge, sparking angry exchanges that led to both being booked. Antonio Valencia wasted the best chance of the half four minutes before the interval when he was played in by Emile Heskey but pulled his shot across the face of goal. Everton had held a slight edge in a fiercely-contested first 45 minutes, and Mikel Arteta almost gave them the lead in injury time with a 20-yard free-kick which was well saved by Kirkland. Johnson, almost inevitably, broke the deadlock after 49 minutes as Wigan's resistance was finally broken. Cahill was allowed to escape down the left flank, and his cross was only half cleared and Johnson swooped to hammer home from eight yards. It was the catalyst for a spell of sustained Everton pressure, with Kirkland twice saving brilliantly from Osman and Johnson shooting inches wide. But Wigan survived and equalised after 63 minutes, when Joseph Yobo's clearance was blocked and former Everton winger Kevin Kilbane, making his Wigan debut, provided a perfect cross for Scharner to power a header beyond Howard. Everton were then gifted the lead again four minutes later when Teale needlessly bundled Osman to the ground when there was little danger. Beattie had only been on the pitch six minutes after replacing Carsley, but he stepped up confidently to give Kirkland no chance. But Everton were guilty of slack defending again as Wigan equalised almost instantly. Kilbane played the ball into the Everton area and Scharner again arrived unattended to sweep a finish past Howard. Wigan were playing with renewed hope, and it took a fine save from Howard to turn aside a powerful drive from Andreas Johansson. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Everton manager David Moyes: \"The galling thing is I don't think Wigan had hardly any opportunities. What they got came from our mistakes and I won't allow it to happen. \"We have enough players now and if people make mistakes then they will not be playing, it is as simple as that. \"I felt we deserved a win. But the bigger picture is that we are still unbeaten in five games and have won three games. I would have settled for that at this stage. \"There was a point after our second goal that we had several chances very quickly to have gone two goals ahead. Wigan manager Paul Jewell: \"I was disappointed with the mistakes we made to give goals, and with the official. \"We committed too many silly fouls, as was shown with their penalty. We claw our way back into the game and then throw it away with a silly foul like that. \"We have got to learn. We lost the ball in our own half for their first goal, and then gave them their penalty with a silly foul. \"Everton didn't have to work too hard for either of their goals, we must learn we cannot just gift teams goals. \"As for the referee Alan Wiley, teams like us commit one foul and get a booking and so-called big clubs can do three fouls before the book comes out. \"I'm delighted with the point, it shows character, but we should not have been fighting like that to get back into a game.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Naysmith (Nuno Valente 77), Osman, Neville, Carsley (Beattie 60), Arteta, Cahill, Johnson. Subs Not Used: Wright, Weir, Van der Meyde. Booked: Neville. Goals: Johnson 49, Beattie 66 pen.Wigan: Kirkland, Boyce, Hall, De Zeeuw, Baines, Valencia (Teale 61), Landzaat (Wright 82), Scharner, Kilbane, Heskey, Johansson. Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Jackson, Cotterill. Booked: Kirkland, De Zeeuw, Valencia, Heskey, Baines. Goals: Scharner 62, 68. Att: 37,117 Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).

Wigan 1-1 Watford
Goals from Henri Camara and Hamuer Bouazza earned Wigan and Watford a point each in an entertaining draw. Wigan took the lead on 28 minutes when Malkay Mackay's poor headed clearance found striker Camara, who slotted past keeper Ben Foster from 12 yards. Keeper Chris Kirkland kept his side in the lead when he parried Marlon King's 52nd-minute strike on to the post. Bouazza scored his first goal in seven months to earn Watford their first away point with a fine 25-yard free-kick. The goal marked a spirited second-half fightback by Adrian Boothroyd's side after a lacklustre first 45 minutes. Wigan made a positive start and monopolised the goalscoring chances in the first half. Only a late offside flag denied striker Emile Heskey, who was through on goal with only keeper Ben Foster to beat on 20 minutes. But the home crowd were soon on their feet when a defensive mix-up between Jordan Stewart and Mackay handed Camara his first Premiership goal of the season. Neither defender dealt with Kirkland's speculative upfield clearance with any authority and when Mackay's timid clearance found Camara, the striker calmly slotted past Foster from 12 yards on 29 minutes. Watford's defenders immediately appealed for offside but referee Rob Styles allowed the goal to stand after consulting assistant Andy Halliday. Camara could have notched a first-half hat-trick had he not wasted two gilt-edged goalscoring opportunities. The Senegal international should have doubled his tally on 41 minutes when he latched on to Heskey's neat flick-on, but he skewed a left-foot shot wide from 14 yards. And seconds later he ran onto Kevin Kilbane's through ball, but this time his tame 25-yard strike landed straight into the hands of keeper Foster. Boothroyd's half-time team talk clearly had its desired effect as Watford began the second half in complete contrast to the first. The visitors increased the urgency in midfield and pegged Wigan back in their own half, with Marlon King in particular posing problems up front. A brilliant fingertip saw Kirkland turning King's superb 25-yard left-foot drive on the turn on to his post on 52 minutes, much to the striker's astonishment. But the visitors earned a deserved equaliser when Bouazza's free-kick found its way past England international Kirkland on 63 minutes. The Wigan wall expected a strike from Ashley Young, but the ball rolled into the path of Bouazza, who drilled his powerful strike into the bottom left corner of Kirkland's goal. The equaliser opened the game up as both teams pushed forward in an effort to find a winner. Heskey went close with a powerful header on 66 minutes, but his effort inched over Foster's crossbar. And seconds later Young should have put Watford in the lead with a free header, but the midfielder failed to connect with Bouazza's well-flighted cross. Paul Scharner could have sealed glory for Wigan in the dying minutes, but his shot from Leighton Baines' cross flew well over the crossbar. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wigan assistant manager Chris Hutchings: \"It should have been over by half-time. \"They don't come any better than the two Henri had after he had scored the opener. \"They were clear-cut chances, and we expect him to put those away at this level. \"He could have had three and that would have wrapped up the points for us. It didn't, and overall we are not too pleased with our performance.\" Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd: \"The first half was very very average from our point of view, in fact I would say it was unacceptable. \"At least in the second half we showed what we are all about, and it's not inconceivable that we could have come away with all three points.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wigan: Kirkland, Boyce, De Zeeuw, Hall, Baines, Valencia (Teale 54), Landzaat, Scharner, Kilbane, Heskey, Camara. Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Jackson, Johansson, Todorov. Booked: Valencia, Camara. Goals: Camara 29. Watford: Foster, DeMerit, Mackay, Shittu, Stewart, Smith (Henderson 72), Mahon, Francis, Young, King, Bouazza (Spring 84). Subs Not Used: Lee, Doyley, McNamee. Booked: Mackay, Mahon. Goals: Bouazza 63. Att: 16,359 Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).

Blackburn v Wigan
Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage should be fit despite being taken off during Thursday's 2-0 Uefa Cup win over Salzburg with a tight hamstring. Striker Jason Roberts (groin), signed from Wigan over the summer, has a slight chance of making the squad. Wigan winger Lee McCulloch is back in contention after four games out with a thigh strain, and is likely to be on the bench at Ewood Park. Long-term casualties Ryan Taylor and Steve McMillan both miss out. Blackburn (from): Friedel, Neill, Khizanishvili, Tugay, Emerton, Savage, Bentley, Nonda, McCarthy, Pedersen, Mokoena, Jeffers, Gallagher, Ooijer, Brown, Gray, Peter, McEveley, Roberts. Wigan (from): Kirkland, Jackson, Hall, De Zeeuw, Kilbane, Camara, Heskey, Johansson, Landzaat, Boyce, Scharner, Teale, Cotterill, Cywka, Webster, Skoko, Baines, Valencia, Todorov, McCulloch, Pollitt.

Wigan v Man Utd
Wigan manager Paul Jewell will assess his 12 returning international players before he decides on his final squad. Andy Webster is close to fitness but is not thought to be ready for his debut while Ryan Taylor and Steve McMillan remain long-term casualties. Gabriel Heinze (both hamstring) is out of Manchester United's squad, but Ryan Giggs is back and could play a part. Cristiano Ronaldo hopes to shake off an ankle injury he picked up on international duty. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wigan (from): Kirkland, Jackson, Hall, De Zeeuw, Kilbane, Camara, Heskey, Johansson, Landzaat, Boyce, Scharner, Teale, Cotterill, Cywka, Webster, Skoko, Baines, Valencia, Todorov, McCulloch, Pollitt. Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Neville, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Brown, Saha, Smith, Carrick, Solskjaer, O'Shea, Richardson, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Jones, Scholes, Rooney. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wigan boss Paul Jewell: \"There was more pressure on us last season because everyone expected us to go down. \"But Manchester United will want to win the league this year, they will feel they have a good chance. \"We know it will be a tough game. What any manager wants out of his team is for them to give their best and whatever we get, I'll take it.\" Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson on Wayne Rooney: \"We are top of the league and we want to stay there. \"We were superb against Newcastle last time out and we want to continue that.\"

Wigan 1-3 Man Utd
Manchester United produced a superb second-half performance to come from a goal behind to beat Wigan. United fell behind in the fifth minute, Leighton Baines rifling a sensational 30-yard free-kick into the top corner. The superb Wayne Rooney hit the bar with a sublime piece of skill before Nemanja Vidic scored his first United goal, heading in Ryan Giggs' corner. Rooney crossed for Louis Saha to fire home before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rolled in a left-foot shot in injury time. It was what United deserved for a second-half display full of verve and passion, though Sir Alex Ferguson's men had to improve after a disappointing opening. If Wigan were apprehensive about playing United after losing three times to them last season - two of which ended 4-0 - they did not show it at the start. The Latics raced out of the blocks in the early afternoon sunshine and before United had any time to settle, they were already behind. Eight days ago, the rapidly-improving Baines hit a 25-yard belter for the England Under-21 side against Germany - but this strike was even better. A free-kick 30 yards out was rolled to him and Baines let fly with a thunderous left-foot shot that screamed past Edwin van der Sar and into the top left-hand corner of the Dutchman's net. United were struggling to get a kick, though they eventually began to work their way back into it, with Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes influencing proceedings. Rooney was quiet, until a breathtaking piece of skill brought him to life and almost brought the visitors level. Chesting the ball down in a packed penalty box 15 yards out, he somehow created half a yard of space and slammed a ferocious shot that rattled Kirkland's crossbar. Goalless since the start of the season, Rooney looked desperate to end his barren run, chasing defenders down and demanding the ball when United attacked. His brilliant outside-of-the-foot pass set up Saha just before the hour mark, but the Frenchman unbelievably dragged his 12-yard shot wide when it looked easier to score. When the equaliser did come, it was from a less likely source. Giggs swung in a corner and Vidic rose unchallenged, nodding past the helpless Kirkland. Suddenly it was all United and they did not have to wait much longer to go in front. Rooney found space down the left, clipped in a fabulous cross and Saha somehow brought the ball down and fired home in one impressive movement. Solskjaer put the icing on the cake deep into stoppage time after another flowing move, his 18-yard left-foot shot creeping into the corner past a stranded Kirkland. United - for a few hours at least - moved three points clear at the top of the Premiership and once more laid down the gauntlet to champions Chelsea in the process.

Wigan 4-0 Man City
Wigan took advantage of a dreadful Manchester City performance to secure a first win in seven games. They went ahead after just 67 seconds when Emile Heskey connected perfectly to fire home an Emmerson Boyce cross. Less than three minutes later Richard Dunne inexplicably headed into his own net from Josip Skoko's free-kick. Henri Camara took advantage of hesitancy by City's defence to score and Antonio Valencia added a fine fourth with a right-foot drive. The win gives Wigan some breathing space at the foot of the table but the way the visitors collapsed will raise some questions for Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce. His side have now taken just five points from the 15 Premiership games on their travels since they were beaten 4-3 at the JJB Stadium on Boxing Day last year. City never looked like improving that record once Heskey had put Wigan in front. The big striker produced one of the only moments of quality in the game when he swung out his right leg to dispatch Boyce's centre past City keeper Nicky Weaver. It was the 28-year-old's 96th goal on his 350th Premiership appearance. And worse was to follow for City with just four minutes on the clock. Skoko swung a free-kick into the box and, with no Wigan players attacking the ball, Weaver came out but failed to collect as Dunne glanced a header into the empty net. It took 22 minutes for City to even manage an effort on target, and even that was an ugly effort well wide by Bernardo Corradi. City's frustrations were illustrated by bookings for Joey Barton and Dietmar Hamann for a couple of late lunges. Paul Jewell's side were not at their best but they rarely needed to be as City's defence repeatedly came to their aid. Paul Scharner seemed to have the freedom of the City box and could have had a hat-trick of headers. Darius Vassell came off the bench to provide a brief moment of hope when he was played in by teenager Michael Johnson on his City debut, but the striker shot wide. Two further goals in just over two minutes ensured just a second win of the season for Wigan. They beautifully carved out their third but were given another helping hand by the City defence. Leighton Baines started the move and then made an ambitious run into the box where he was picked out by Kevin Kilbane. Baines' square ball should have been cleared by Stephen Jordan but Camara pounced on his half-hearted clearance to deflect past Weaver. City's defence was nowhere to be seen moments later as Heskey picked out Valencia to stride into the box and drive into the bottom corner for his first goal in English football and complete City's misery. It was the biggest victory for Wigan in their brief Premiership history and the heaviest defeat of Pearce's 19-month reign. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wigan boss Paul Jewell: \"I don't think it was a fantastic performance, it was a sound one. We deserved to win but the score wasn't a true reflection. \"There are a lot of new players here who are settling in and we will get better as the season goes on. \"There is room for improvement all over the pitch, but you can't be unhappy with a four-nil win.\" Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce: \"You don't give yourselves a chance when you go 2-0 down after four minutes. \"When you go away from home you hope to keep it tight and quiet the home crowd down, but we did the opposite. \"Man-for-man, we didn't compete well enough and in the second half we lost our shape trying to chase the game.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wigan: Kirkland, Boyce, Hall (Webster 46), De Zeeuw, Baines, Valencia (Teale 83), Skoko (Landzaat 30), Scharner, Kilbane, Heskey, Camara. Subs Not Used: Pollitt, McCulloch. Booked: Webster. Goals: Heskey 2, Dunne 4 og, Camara 65, Valencia 67. Man City: Weaver, Mills (Vassell 60), Richards, Dunne, Jordan, Sinclair, Johnson, Hamann (Dickov 46), Barton, Samaras, Corradi. Subs Not Used: Hart, Onuoha, Laird. Booked: Hamann. Att: 16,235. Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).

Fulham v Wigan
Fulham captain Luis Boa Morte returns to their squad after five weeks out with a fractured cheekbone but is likely to start on the bench. Goalkeeper Antti Niemi felt a twinge in his groin in training on Friday but is expected to be fit. Denny Landzaat could get another chance in the Wigan midfield following Josip Skoko's hamstring injury. Centre-back Fitz Hall is also out with ankle ligament damage so Andy Webster or Matt Jackson will deputise. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fulham (from): Niemi, Rosenior, Knight, Pearce, Queudrue, Brown, Bocanegra, Volz, Jensen, Radzinski, McBride, John, Boa Morte, Lastuvka, Helguson, Zakuani, Routledge. Wigan (from): Kirkland, Boyce, Webster, De Zeeuw, Baines, Teale, Valencia, Landzaat, Scharner, Kilbane, Todorov, Camara, McCulloch, Heskey, Pollitt, Jackson. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fulham striker Tomasz Radzinski: \"Wigan will be flying high after last weekend and they're a team that can score many goals. \"It's going to be a tough game but, with the right approach and our home advantage, hopefully we can continue our good form and put another three points on the board. \"We have to have the right approach to the game and we've got two or three players in our team who can make a difference and score the goals for us. \"We are a very stubborn team now and we don't give up. Our heads don't drop and even if we go a goal behind we know we can turn it around.\" Wigan boss Paul Jewell: \"Fulham have had a decent start. Since they lost to Manchester United on the first day they've won at Newcastle and have kept up good home form. \"It's a tough place to go, we went there last year, played very well and lost the game. \"We need to start picking up points on the road and I'm sure that the victory on Saturday and the way we've responded since the Manchester United game will stand us in good stead.\"

Permanent Wigan deal for Kirkland
Wigan have signed goalkeeper Chris Kirkland on a permanent deal from Liverpool until 2009. Kirkland, 25, initially joined the Latics on a six-month loan deal in the summer and has been ever-present for the Premiership outfit this season. Wigan boss Paul Jewell said: \"It was always our intention to make the deal permanent. It's great news that we've got it all sorted so quickly.\" Kirkland joined Liverpool for £6m from Coventry in 2001. But he fell down the pecking order because of injury and spent last season on loan at West Brom. Kirkland, who made his international debut in England's 4-0 win over Greece in August, said of his move: \"I'm really pleased that my future is now sorted. \"It's been great since joining Wigan, we have a tremendous set of lads and the gaffer has been different class. \"This is an ambitious club that is going places and I'm delighted that I'll be part of that.\" Jewell is delighted with the quality of goalkeepers he now has at the JJB Stadium. He said: \"I'm blessed with three excellent keepers in Kirky, Mike Pollitt and John Filan, who's currently on loan at Doncaster. The competition is fierce and that's how I like it.\"

Fulham 0-1 Wigan
Henri Camara struck with seven minutes remaining to secure Wigan's first away win in the Premiership this season. Camara latched on to the ball after Zat Knight's clearance was charged down and shot low past Antti Niemi. Earlier, Wigan's Denny Landzaat sent a penalty against the bar after Camara's shot struck Knight on the elbow. Camara also saw a 50th-minute header parried by Niemi before being cleared, with Wigan players claiming the ball had crossed the line. Television replays were inconclusive, but Camara's goal meant the incident did not ultimately prove controversial. The late drama came in a match which had been high on industry but low on thrills. Neither side threatened to score until a mazy run from Fulham's Claus Jensen just after the half hour which ended with the Dane shooting over. Tomasz Radzinski also gave the visitors a scare with a deflected cross which raced across the face of goal. Wigan's best chance of the opening period came after a slick move which ended with Gary Teale sidefooting into the path of Landzaat, but the Dutchman blazed over. And Paul Scharner should have done better with a header from Teale's cross which he directed off target. Fulham began the second half with some urgency and Wigan's Kevin Kilbane came very close to putting Franck Queudrue's dangerous cross into his own net. But it was Wigan who felt aggrieved shortly afterwards after Camara's header from Kilbane's deep corner was clawed away by the sprawling Niemi. Despite Wigan's protestations that the ball was over, replays were not conclusive. And they appeared to have lost the chance of victory on 73 minutes when Landzaat sent a penalty kick against the bar. Graham Poll pointed to the spot after Camara's shot struck Knight on the elbow inside the six-yard box. Landzaat halted his run-up in a bid to fool Niemi, but the trick proved pointless as the kick struck the top of the crossbar and bounced over. But just when a draw seemed likely, Camara raced clear on to the loose ball and showed a cool head to shoot home, despite Niemi getting a hand to the shot. Fulham substitute Luis Boa Morte - making his first appearance in five weeks after a fractured cheekbone - had a late header saved, but there was no way back for Fulham. Indeed, it could have been worse, but for a good double save by Niemi from Camara and then Lee McCulloch in injury time.

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