Wigan Athletic 2 Newcastle Utd 1: THE SPIRIT of Christmas should have been alive and well inside the JJB Stadium. Two clubs, both enjoying good runs, were playing under a clear blue sky in front of a fair sprinkling of Santa Claus costumes plus the odd seasonal hangover.
Instead, this mid-table clash came with a chunky Dickensian subplot which hung over proceedings like a bad smell.
Who, with the January transfer window just around the corner, was poised to become the ghost of Christmas past? Newcastle may think they have problems with Michael Owen already setting his sights on pastures new and Tottenham Hotspur reportedly sniffing around Shay Given.
But that almost pales into insignificance next to unfashionable Wigan, half of whose squad appear to be attracting attention from elsewhere. And how the Geordies must hope Ryan Taylor, one of Athletic's more unsung performers, packs his bags and catches a slow boat to China such is the midfielder's tendency to act as a thorn in their side.
Two seasons ago United lost in the league at the JJB to a winner from Taylor. Last year when Newcastle came to town it was the same story - one deciding goal, bagged by Taylor. He even scored the opener for Wigan when they drew 2-2 at St James' Park six weeks ago, so it should have come as little surprise to the travelling masses when once again Taylor's 29th-minute peach of a free-kick over the Newcastle defensive wall and beyond Given's right glove gave Wigan the lead.
Such is Taylor's hex over Newcastle that you could almost hear the collective sigh of relief from the away end when he was substituted to a standing ovation in the 71st minute.
Not that his departure changed the eventual outcome, as within moments Wigan had the game won when Amr Zaki scored from the penalty spot after Emile Heskey had been fouled by Sebastien Bassong in the area, the United defender duly receiving his marching orders.
"They must be sick and tired of the sight of him," said Wigan manager Steve Bruce of Taylor's effect on Newcastle, before addressing the looming spectre of the January transfer window.
"We don't want to lose Ryan. We don't want to lose anyone, but, as I've said before, I know the big clubs are out there because we've got quality players. I want to keep hold of them and, if possible, even add to the squad that we've got. They're a talented bunch of lads who are in a good run of form at the moment."
The sight of Owen making his way from the field after 78 largely unproductive minutes seemed to sum up Newcastle's grim afternoon, but, to give Joe Kinnear's side credit, they hauled themselves back into the match after a foul by Chris Kirkland on Andrew Carroll gave Danny Guthrie the opportunity to score the second penalty of the afternoon.
United could even have stolen a point when Kirkland palmed Charles N'Zogbia's cross from the left into the path of Damien Duff. However, with the goal at his mercy, the Dubliner blazed horribly wide on his favoured left foot from 10 yards, leaving Wigan to celebrate a fifth successive home league win.
• Guardian Service
