Toon maintain unbeaten run

THEY say the table never lies.

But the Premier League is telling a few porkies at the moment based on this evidence, if not on the scoreline.

Newcastle are now in fourth place after starting the season unbeaten; Wigan are rock bottom after their sixth game without a win.

Yet Wigan had the edge in so many elements of this game — passing, composure on the ball, organisation — that they effectively turned the Premier League placings on their head. A draw was the least Wigan deserved and their manager, Roberto Martinez, was right to be dismayed that they did not emerge with their first victory of the season.

His assessment of the difference between the haves and the have-nots was compelling and, despite the way Wigan were at least the equal of Newcastle in every department, he accepts they inhabit different worlds. Martinez said: “Everyone can see Newcastle are a big traditional club with a massive support and they have a special environment in which to play their football.

“It will only be a matter of time before they’re in the top six but you’re talking about other teams who have been playing in Champions League for the last six or seven years and have invested huge sums of money. Newcastle are in the process of doing that and potentially they’re as good as anybody in European football.

“At the moment there are six clubs ahead of everyone else, and in football terms it’s very difficult to build those bridges. Here, their confidence and belief gave them three points, as well as the support of their fans, who can win that extra decision from referees, who haven’t got the experience in these atmospheres.”

Martinez’s dig at referee Neil Swarbrick was understandable.

The Wigan manager felt — with some justification — they had claims for an early penalty and could have been facing 10 men if Leon Best had been sent off for a first-half assault on Maynor Figueroa. But, in the final analysis, two pieces of quality football finally ensured a Newcastle success, the type of finishing that Wigan could not reproduce despite the excellence of Ben Watson and Victor Moses.

First came Tim Krul’s early save from Moses, which will be among the best of the season. Then Yohan Cabaye finished stylishly for his first goal for Newcastle in the 81st minute. The France midfielder celebrated by racing to United masseur Micky Holland, who has told him before every game this season that he would score.

The suspicion remains, though, that Pardew can scarcely believe what is happening after a summer of uncertainty at the club, but he is happy to accept their remarkable unbeaten start to the season, with Blackburn to come in the Carling Cup on Wednesday.

“Wigan at home is the type of game that you have to win,” he said. “In Spain, Italy and France some of the teams at the top just roll other teams over, but you can’t here. It just doesn’t happen.

“But if I was Roberto Martinez I would be very disappointed that I did not get anything out of this game because their attitude and application deserved something.”

Pardew was right — Martinez was dismayed, but remains optimistic. He said: “Anyone can get a lucky win but you cannot have a lucky stay in the this league for that length of time and I feel a performance like this will allow us to win more points across the season.’’