West Brom 1 Wigan 0 - Report and pictures

Bakary Sako's first goal for the Baggies on the half-hour mark was enough to separate the sides, but there were a host of encouraging performances from Albion's fringe players.

Although it was old stages like Chris Brunt and Wes Hoolahan who helped Darren Moore's men control the game, the next generation of Baggies also impressed.

Rekeem Harper's power in midfield was complemented by Jonathan Leko's trickery up front and Sam Field's ability to mop up.

There was even a clean sheet on debut for Jonathan Bond, who was thrown into nets at the last minute due to a sickness bug taking Boaz Myhill.

Fellow debutant Mason Holgate impressed at right-back, and could well keep his place there in the league.

Ten days after losing 2-0 here on Boxing Day, the Latics were just as toothless, and apart from an early chance for Will Grigg and a late flurry, Albion kept them at bay thanks to an improved Kyle Bartley playing right centre-back alongside Tosin Adarabioyo.

In front of a stadium just two-thirds full, Albion started brightly in the subdued lunchtime atmosphere.

But it was Wigan who created the first chance of the match. Teams have noticed Albion's vulnerability to the short corner, and five minutes in the Latics flashed a shot across goal after working another one that caught them out.

Callum McManaman, the former Baggie who was man of the match of the 2013 FA Cup final, started on the left hand side up against Holgate.

But it was when he drifted into a central position ten minutes in that he managed to find some space, slipping a ball in behind Holgate for Will Grigg.

The Latics captain's shot was too near to Bond, who did well to get down quickly and palm it round the post. Chey Dunkley headed inches over from the resulting corner.

Albion had muted appeals for a handball 16 minutes in when Kyle Bartley rose highest to nod a Christ Brunt free-kick goalwards but referee Keith Stroud said no.

But after that, the Baggies started to gain control and it was down predominantly to two players with a combined age of 70.

Wes Hoolahan, all 36 years of him, was being deployed as an energetic false nine, and it was strangely enjoyable. Behind him was Chris Brunt, at 34, who was also dictating play.

After a lovely shimmy from Jonathan Leko, Hoolahan found Brunt on the wing, whose low cross bounced off a Wigan defender and onto Leko's knees before going wide.

Leko was beginning to sparkle. Callum Connolly was shown a yellow when his only response to being bodyrolled 30 yards out was to wrestle the youngster to the ground.

Chris Brunt nearly found the top corner with the resulting free-kick but a superb full-stretch save from Jamie Jones pushed it around the post.

Albion weren't to be denied for long though, because when the resulting corner came back out to Brunt, the skipper beat a man with quick feet before curling an inch-perfect cross onto Sako's head six yards out.

Jones got a glove to his header, but could only push it onto the underside of the bar and it bounced over the line, giving Albion the lead with his first goal for the club.

Shortly before half-time and Holgate nearly capped a promising debut with a wondergoal.

Jinking inside off the wing, he stepped inside Kai Naismith and then McManaman before aiming towards the bottom corner, but Jones saved.

The second string were enjoying themselves, and played with the same endeavour after the break.

Sako nearly had a second in the 52nd minute after being slipped in behind by the powerful Harper, but after the first shot was saved by Jones, Sako's second effort was cleared superbly off the line by the retreating Dunkley.

Leko had a chance soon after when Hoolahan sent him clear down the left wing, but his shot drifted wide of the far post.

Holgate was the next to waste a chance, heading over when Bartley's towering header back across goal bounced up to him.

Albion were in complete control, but they needed a second. As if to reiterate that, Josh Windass flashed a long-range shot just past Bond's post.

The Latics started to believe, and 20 minutes before the end, their fans wanted a penalty when the ball bounced up and appeared to hit Field's arm, but nothing was given.

Four minutes from time, substitute Hal Robson-Kanu blazed a good chance over after a neat turnaway from this man.

Wigan had another penalty shout in injury time when Brunt appeared to push Windass to the floor, but once again, Stroud said no.

But in truth, the Latics never really looked like scoring. Moore will be pleased with a job well done.

Key moments

29 Brunt nearly finds the top corner with a free-kick but superb save from Jones denies him.

30 GOAL ALBION - Sako heads Brunt's inch-perfect cross in off the underside of the bar.

52 Dunkley clears Sako's shot off the line.

72 Wigan want a penalty when the ball bounces up and hits Field's arm, but nothing given.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Wes Hoolahan - Flourished as a false nine. Brilliant both on and off the ball. Has he played his way to a contract extension?

Teams

Albion (4-3-3): Bond; Holgate, Adarabioyo, Bartley, Townsend; Field, Brunt (c), Harper (Morrison 87); Leko (Robson-Kanu 79), Hoolahan (Edwards 72), Sako.

Unused subs: Palmer, Howkins, Mears, Fitzwater.

Wigan Athletic (4-2-3-1): Jones; Byrne, Dunkley, Kipre, Naismith; Evans, Connolly (Roberts 66); Lopes (James 57), Windass, McManaman (MacDonald 77); Grigg (c).

Unused subs: Walton, Vaughan, Garner.

Referee: Keith Stroud

Attendance: 15,465