[themaclad]

Preston North End 4 (FOUR) Barkhuizen, Robinson 2 Gallagher pen Wigan Athletic 0 (No tries)

PNE line-up: Maxwell, Fisher, Hughes, Pearson, Clarke ©, Storey, Barkhuizen (Maguire, 75), Johnson (Gallagher, 75), Nmecha, Browne, Robinson. Subs not used: Rudd, Earl, Davies, Moult, Barker.

Wigan Athletic line-up: Walton, A Robinson, Gibson, Morsy ©, Grigg, Windass (McManaman, 69), James, Jacobs (Garner, 69), Kipre, Dunkley, Powell (Burn, 45). Subs not used: Jones, Byrne, Roberts, Evans.

Attendance: 15,280 (3,831 Wigan Athletic fans)

Referee: Mr L Probert

Win and a clean sheet, can't ask for more than that still think we need to improve at the back but two games unbeaten signs of progress at last. As for Wigan they were pants.
A fairly dull first half with occasional outbreks of football and sporadic argy bargy, Latics started brighter forced a few early corner which we dealt with before we took the lea through Barkhuizen after nice build up play on the edge of he box. As is the normal Maxwell caused a bit of chaos by dropping the ball near his back post which we managed to clear and Clarke had an iffy moment when giving the ball away but we survived. The rest of the half was punctuated bystoppages and plenty of fouls both Pearson and Robinson booked for cynical trips although Pearson's managed to crock Powell at the same time. Browne and Windass were both bookerd for argy bargy following Robbo's foul.
On the stroke of half time Powell went off and was strangely replace by a dustbin by the name of Dan Burn.



First five minutes of the second packed more in than the entired first period, Barkhuizen easily beat the dustbin and in the follow up Browne clattered the underside of the bar. The impressive James for Wigan fired in a shot which Maxwell did well to save before Robinson doubled the lead more good work by Barkhuizen and the ball ended up at Robinson's feet then the net.
latics were then reduced to 10 when Gibson was sent off for fouling Pearson looked harsh to me but apparently it was for a high tackle.
Wigan brought on ex North Ender made no difference although again Maxwell pulled off a decent save to deny Reece. Game set and match late on Nmecha brought down in the box, Gallagher slotted home, still time at the death for Maguire to play in Robinson for the fourth, up to places, still things to work on but with the promise of Nmecha and at the back Storey things are looking better.

Preston manager Alex Neil said:

"It's obviously pleasing to score four goals but we have been scoring regularly, the most pleasing thing for me is the clean sheet.

"Minutes on the pitch are crucial for Sean Maguire and I think he showed in the build-up to the fourth goal why he is such an important player for us.

"He will go away with the Republic of Ireland now and they have said they will make sure he doesn't do too much - they have been top class with us.

"Everyone will go home a lot happier tonight and it means we will be going in to the international break in much better spirits."

Wigan manager Paul Cook said:

"I have to be careful what I say because emotions are raw just after full-time.

"We are disappointed but the best team won and that really is the disappointment because it is maybe the lowest point I have had at the club.

"The players have been fantastic to date but that was an all-time low.

"Irrespective of the sending-off, Preston were a lot better than us and fully deserved the win."