Fulham 1 Wigan 1

RECEIVED wisdom suggests that a steady diet of hard-fought, narrow 1-0 victories offers the best chance of Premier League survival.

Wigan 5 Blackburn 3

IT has not taken long for Steve Bruce’s honeymoon at Wigan to come to a shuddering halt.

Bolton 4 Wigan 1

Chelsea failed to hit the heights of last week’s 6-0 thrashing of Manchester City against strugglers Wigan at the JJB, but two fine first-half goals were enough to put them back in the Barclays Premier League hunt.

Wigan manager Chris Hutchings has an almost full strength squad to choose from for their home clash against Chelsea with Mario Melchiot, Denny Landzaat, Antonio Valencia and Antoine Sibierski all having made a successful return from injury.

Wigan striker Antoine Sibierski is the only doubt for boss Chris Hutchings ahead of tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League match with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Kevin Kilbane is back from suspension for Wigan’s game at Reading tomorrow after missing last week’s 1-1 draw at home to Fulham.

Kevin Kilbane will miss Wigan’s home game against Fulham on Saturday as he serves a one-match ban for his sending-off in the Latics’ 1-0 defeat at Newcastle a fortnight ago.

Wigan boss Chris Hutchings has completed the signing of Dutch winger Rachid Bouaouzan, who narrowly avoided a prison sentence during his time in the Eredivisie.

West Ham 1 Wigan Athletic 1

Wigan 3 Sunderland 0

ANTOINE SIBIERSKI was on target again as Wigan kick-started their Barclays Premier League campaign at the expense of Middlesbrough — giving manager Chris Hutchings a victory to savour.

Wigan 1 Middlesbrough 0

Goals from Leon Osman and Victor Anichebe gave Everton an opening day victory.

Sheffield United 1 Wigan 2

Liverpool warmed up nicely for the Champions League as they took a firm grip on third place in the Barclays Premiership.

Dirk Kuyt scored a goal in each half as Liverpool strolled to victory and sent Wigan closer to the relegation zone.

Wigan 3 Tottenham 3

Aston Villa 1 Wigan 1

Holland coach Marco van Basten has named Wilfred Bouma and Evander Sno among several Premiership players in a provisional 27-man squad for two upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers.

Bargain-buy Caleb Folan condemned struggling Manchester City to a fourth consecutive Premiership defeat and put Wigan tantalisingly close to survival.

Wigan boss Paul Jewell was left to rue another controversial refereeing decision, but watched his 10-man side edge a further point away from the relegation zone at Watford tonight.

Arsene Wenger accepts Arsenal continue to be slow starters at the Emirates Stadium – but backed the “character and resilience” of his side to see them through.

Arsene Wenger accepts Arsenal continue to be slow starters at the Emirates Stadium – but backed the “character and resilience” of his side to see them through.

Paul Jewell fully expects to be hauled before the Football Association following his scathing attack on referee Phil Dowd in the wake of Wigan’s 2-1 defeat at Arsenal.

Manchester United maintained their six-point lead over champions Chelsea with a 2-0 victory over Charlton that had Alex Ferguson refusing to look over his shoulder as the Barclays Premiership title run-in takes shape.

Arsenal 2 Wigan 1

STEVE STAUNTON reckons that the League of Ireland exodus to England and Scotland reflects positively on the state of the domestic game.

Reading 3 Wigan 2

Dirk Kuyt and Peter Crouch combined to fire Liverpool to within two points of Premiership champions Chelsea tonight as West Ham blew their latest chance to climb out of the drop zone.

Wigan midfielder Lee McCulloch retains his place in the starting line-up for today’s clash with Everton at the JJB Stadium despite handing in a transfer request on Friday.

Kolo Toure will return from suspension in one of four changes to the Arsenal line-up for tonight’s Premiership clash against Wigan at the JJB Stadium.

Lee McCulloch stepped off the bench and handed Wigan their second away win on the trot.

Wigan midfielder Denny Landzaat could be given a chance in the clash at Fulham following the injury to Josip Skoko.

AS Wayne Rooney becomes a man, celebrating his 21st birthday, it is perhaps fitting that he will have the first crisis of his career already behind him.

Wigan 1 Manchester United 3

Debutant goalkeeper Jason Brown emerged as Blackburn’s hero after saving a crucial penalty as Rovers battled back from behind to sink Wigan at Ewood Park.

Everton 2 Wigan 2

Portsmouth 1 Wigan 0

Wigan 1 Reading 0

Ruud van Nistelrooy has been omitted by Holland coach Marco van Basten from his squad for next Wednesday’s friendly with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.

Full-back Emmerson Boyce completed his move from Crystal Palace to Wigan today for a fee believed to be about £1.5m (€2.2m).