Latics 2-0 QPR

Two Franco Di Santo goals gave the Latics their best ever start to a Premier League season and stretched the unbeaten run to seven games with a comfortable victory against last season's Championship champions, QPR.

James McCarthy was rested due to the young midfield man struggling with an ankle knock, so with Hugo Rodallega making his first start of the season the Latics had a much more balanced feel about them.

Although never stretched, the Latics were thankful to the post when Adel Taarabt curled a delightful 25 yard effort against the woodwork on 14 minutes, but with Gomez, Watson and Diame playing well Latics midfield looked a class above their opponents, Moses, Rodallega and Di Santo also looked menacing every time they were on the ball.

Latics had the better of the early chances, in one instance Emmerson Boyce went on a mazy run reminiscent of Brazil defender Lucio, he fed the ball to Moses out wide left, the 20 year old attacker cut in field and hit a wicked shot/cross across the face of goal, unfortunately no one could get on the end of it and the ball whistled past the far post.

The opening goal when it came was on the end of an 18 pass move that Franco Di Santo finished off when he thundered a right footed effort into Paddy Kenny`s top left hand corner from fully 25 yards.

1-0 at the break and the Latics were well worth their lead, they were head and shoulders above QPR in terms of quality, surely it would only be a matter of time before the lead was extended in the second half, surely enough on 66 minutes Di Santo smashed home his second of the game to seal the points.

Following another period of good possession the ball was played down the right, a cross was whipped in and as the QPR defenders tried to clear Di Santo pounced on the edge of the box to fire hard and high into the goal from 18 yards.

A thoroughly deserved win for Martinez's team. After a tricky start to the season facing the three newly promoted sides the gaffer must be quietly pleased with the results so far and especially the form of his number 9, Franco Di Santo.


By permission of Bernard Platt/Wigan Athletic

Hugo Rodallega although Franco Di Santo got teh plaudits for his two goals, I felt that Hugo brought balance to the side and he played very well considering it was his first start of the season. Latics: Al Habsi, Caldwell (c), Watson, Di Santo (Sammon 68), Moses (MacArthur68), Gomez (Stam 75), Boyce, Rodallega, Diame, Lopez, Figueroa.

Subs: Kirkland, McCarthy, Thomas, McArthur, Sammon, Jones, Stam

QPR: Kenny, Derry, Hall (Harriman 61), Gabbidon, Taarabt, Buzsaky (Bothroyd 71), Faurlin, Perone, Connolly, Agyemang, Smith (Andrade 80)

Subs: Bothroyd, Helguson, Ephraim, Murphy, Hewitt, Andrade, Harriman

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