Manchester City kept up the pressure on arch rivals Manchester United with a hard-fought win at Wigan this evening.
After an uneventful opening 45 minutes, City eventually broke through with Mario Balotelli, who tucked home at the second time of asking after Gareth Barry's shot was blocked.
Substitute James Milner then smashed home a 25-yard rasper to seal the points at the DW Stadium.
Here, Sports Mole analyses City's 20th unbeaten game in the Premier League.
Match statistics:
Wigan:
Shots 9
On target 4
Possession 46%
Corners 6
Fouls 13
City:
Shots 15
On target 6
Possession 54%
Corners 6
Fouls 12
Was the result fair?
Only just. Wigan could have nicked a goal but in all honesty it was much more likely that City would score. There was a severe lack of clear-cut chances but both sides will probably feel that they might have won.
Wigan's performance
Encouraging against the Premier League champions. Arouna Kone is a livewire up front but he was the guilty party of missing the Latics' clearest opening with a free header. Jean Beausejour was also dangerous whipping over crosses from the left. Roberto Martinez will be quite happy though and will move on to the next game.
City's performance
Average. Roberto Mancini's men were wasteful in the first half and the star names of David Silva and Sergio Aguero in particular were a let-down. Balotelli also wasn't having the greatest game but scored the crucial opener to get City going.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Gareth Barry: The Englishman leaves Wigan this evening with both assists and an assured overall performance that included some energetic surges forward.
Biggest gaffe
Kone and Balotelli can fight it out for this award as both missed free headers when scoring seemed easier.
Referee performance
Mark Halsey had a fairly easy game to referee but could have given penalties to both sides when Jordi Gomez was felled in the area and Barry had his shirt tugged by Ronnie Stam.
What next?
City: Mancini's men welcome Everton to the Etihad on Saturday afternoon.
Wigan: The Latics face a trip to ailing Newcastle on Monday night.
Pascal Lemesre
