Premier League champions Manchester City travelled to a resurgent Wigan side looking to keep pace on Manchester rivals United at the top of the Premier League.
After an uneventful opening 45 minutes, City eventually broke through with Mario Balotelli.
Substitute James Milner then smashed home a 25-yard rasper to seal the points at the DW Stadium.
Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by-minute live coverage below.
Evening folks, looking forward to what should be an action-packed game tonight. Kickoff is at 8pm.
City have just tweeted that captain Vincent Kompany is likely to play despite nursing a knee injury while Gael Clichy and Micah Richards are definitely out.
There's seven other games in the top division tonight and I'll keep you up-to-date with all the big goals as they go in.
We're covering three of those with text commentaries as well. Click here to follow the West London derby between Chelsea and Fulham, here for Spurs vs. Liverpool and here for West Ham's trip to Old Trafford.
To add to that, we're also on top of the mouth-watering match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison. Find the commentary on that one by clicking here.
TEAM NEWS AHOY!
Hart; Maicon, Komapny, Nastasic, Zabaleta; Garcia, Barry; Silva, Y. Toure, Balotelli; Aguero
Al Habsi; Boyce, Stam, Lopez, Figueroa; McCarthy, Jones, Gomez, Beausejour; Kone, Di Santo
Jordi Gomez is rewarded for his winning hat-trick performance at the weekend with a rare start for Wigan.
For the visitors, Mario Balotelli gets the nod to partner Sergio Aguero up front, with Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez on the bench.
Pantilimon, Kolo Toure, Kolarov, Milner, Sinclair, Tevez, Dzeko
Pollitt, McManaman, McArthur, Boselli, Fyvie, Golobart, Redmond
Adrian Lopez replaces the injured Ivan Ramis at the heart of Roberto Martinez's defence while Franco di Santo returns for Shaun Maloney, who is out of the squad entirely.
The last time these two met was in January and it was also at the DW. Dzeko's 22nd-minute strike was enough to settle that one.
In fact, City have won five on the bounce against the Latics, not conceding a single goal in those five matches. Ominous?
City boss Roberto Mancini turned 48 yesterday, can his side deliver a late birthday present?
The game between United and West Ham is the only other 8pm kickoff. The other six get underway in just 15 minutes.
City manager Mancini has just told Sky Sports News that playing three games in seven days is the reason behind some of the changes he's made.
Mark Halsey will referee tonight's match.
Remember, City can reclaim the Premier League's top spot if United slip up at all against the Hammers. Behind them, if surprise package West Brom can down Swansea and City lose at the DW then miraculously the Baggies will move level on points with City.
I haven't seen much of Di Santo and Kone over 90 minutes this year but I've heard good things about their on-field partnership. Can the duo get under the skin of Kompany and the inexperience of Matija Nastisic.
Manchester Evening News journalist Rob Dawson has just tweeted this: "It really is freezing at the DW Stadium but there's one player not warming up in gloves, leggings or a snood. It's James Milner."
Early GOAL at Goodison! Theo Walcott has put the Gunners one up inside the first minute!
Ten minutes until the off at Wigan.
GOAL at White Hart Lane and Spurs are ahead against Liverpool thanks to a stunning run from Gareth Bale who crossed for opposite winger Aaron Lennon to tap home.
GOAL at Swansea and Michu has put the hosts ahead against West Brom. Plenty of goals already in the Premier League!
Five minutes until kickoff at the DW.
What a start for Swansea! They now lead 2-0 against high-flying West Brom as Wayne Routledge finds the net. Baggies bubble bursting?
Back to the DW and the players are out. Wigan are in their traditional white-and-blue while City turn out in their all maroon changed strip.
Wigan get us underway.
Goals at Spurs and United! Bale has just scored a free kick to put the hosts two up while United have scored the quickest goal in the league this season through Robin Van Persie!
First shot of the game comes from Kone but it's straight at Hart who beats away.
First City shot comes from the onrushing Maicon but it's from a tight angle and miles over.
Clever interplay between Gomez and Beausejour but the latter's cross is way too long for any blue shirts in the box.
Garcia steals the ball and frees Aguero down the left. The Argentinian goes on the outside and has a go but Al-Habsi watches it into his side netting.
Zabaleta breaks into the box after a clever backheel from Aguero but is dispossessed just as he was about to shoot.
There's some concern as Maicon has just taken Di Santo's cross straight to the throat. There's always the worry that he's swallowed his tongue. The Brazilian is still down but it looks like he'll be OK to continue.
Equaliser for Everton and it's that man Marouane Fellaini again.
Wigan work the ball nicely but Stam's cross is pants, clearing everyone and going harmlessly out of play.
CHANCE! Kone steals the ball and finds Gomez who in turn feeds Beausejour. The Chilean winger jinks inside Maicon and fires goalwards but it's well blocked.
Goal at St Mary's! Rickie Lambert has put the home side ahead against Norwich.
SHOT! Aguero lets fly from 20 yards but Al-Habsi watched that wide comfortably.
Hart collects a Beausejour cross and frees Silva with an accurate throw. The Spaniard looks to feed Balotelli but it's cut out and Al-Habsi gathers. City struggling to create any meaningful chances so far.
Needless challenge from Stam on Balotelli gives City a free kick left of the area.
Swansea are running riot against West Brom as Routledge puts them three up!
Nothing came of that previous City free kick but now they have a corner.
That also is headed out by the home side.
If you refresh the page you'll see a new picture of a less-than-pleased Mancini tonight.
Almost an opening for City as Figueroa misjudges the ball and Aguero sprints clear. Lopez does well to get back and clear out for a corner.
Equaliser for Norwich at Southampton as Robert Snodgrass sneaks a free kick past Paulo Gazzaniga.
Great run down the right from Stam and he picks out Kone at the near post but his header loops onto the top of the net.
Goal for West Brom just before half-time from Romelu Lukaku. The Baggies are still 3-1 down at Swansea.
Chelsea 0-0 Fulham, Everton 1-1 Arsenal, Southampton 1-1 Norwich, Stoke 0-0 Newcastle, Swansea 3-1 West Brom, Tottenham 2-0 Liverpool
Aguero brings down Gomez and Wigan have a free kick 25 yards out. Central.
Gomez takes it on and it's a cracking effort from the Spaniard that just clears the crossbar, hitting the stanchion behind the goal.
Balotelli throws himself under a challenge and the linesman awards the Italian with a free kick right on the goalline, right of goal. Silva to take...
Di Santo runs at the City defence and has a shot that's blocked by Nastisic for a Latics corner.
Penalty shout for Wigan as Gomez goes down under challenge from Zabaleta. Halsey waves it away but that could've been given. Tough call.
Gomez is clearly frustrated and hacks down Barry for the first booking of the match.
Gomez is clearly frustrated and hacks down Barry for the first booking of the match.
CHANCE! Toure beats a couple of defenders down the left and takes a shot from a tight angle that is straight at Al-Habsi.
Wigan 0-0 City
Not too much to report from the opening half at the DW. City have predictably had more of the ball (54%) but Wigan have looked dangerous at times.
Click here to read our half-time report.
Goal at Stoke! Papiss Cisse has given Newcastle the lead at the Britannia.
In the other 8pm kickoff, United still lead West Ham by Van Persie's goal after 33 seconds. Click here to read our half-time report on that one (there's a cracking pic of RVP).
Players are back out for the second half, here's to a more entertaining second 45.
Balotelli tries to score from the restart. He doesn't.
SHOT! Silva has a go from 23 yards but it's straight at Al-Habsi.
Balotelli is scythed down on the edge and this is a chance for City from the free kick.
The Italian takes it on himself but it's into the wall and eventually cleared by the home side.
Toure crosses for a further-forward-than-usual Barry. The Englishman appeals for a penalty and replays do show that Stam was all over his shirt.
Balotelli delays and then tees up Toure but his shot was always rising.
BIG MISS! Maicon's deep cross picks out an unmarked Balotelli but he heads wide of the post. Shocker!
CHANCE! McCarthy's cross to Kone is superb but the striker heads wide when completely unmarked.
Silva and Aguero exchange passes on the edge but the former's shot is high, wide and not too handsome.
Goal for Liverpool and the Reds are back within one of Spurs as Aaron Lennon boots Steven Gerrard's header off the line but straight into Gareth Bale and in.
First substitution for the visitors as James Milner replaces Garcia.
CHANCE! Beausejour's cross from the left is a gem and it goes all the way through to Gomez at the back post but he can't angle his header back across goal.
Milner's deflected shot almost falls for Balotelli before Aguero tricks his way into the area but clips a cross too long for Balotelli.
Maicon's whip over from the right and Balotelli is penalised for a high foot.
Strange move from Mancini as he brings off Aguero for Kolarov.
GOAL! CITY LEAD! BALOTELLI!
The Champions have the lead. Barry's shot is spilled by Al-Habsi and Balotelli is strong to hold off a challenge but his first effort at goal is kept out by Al-Habsi. The Italian is not to be denied, however, as he smashes home at the second attempt.
GOAL! 2-0 CITY! SCREAMER FROM MILNER!
Many would have turned their noses up at the introduction of the Englishman but he's just scored an absolute rasper! Barry tees him up with plenty of time on the edge and there was no stopping that one. Great hit!
Wigan change as Jones comes off for James McArthur.
City really hadn't looked that strong tonight but they've turned his one on its head with a pair of goals in three minutes. No way back for the Latics.
CHANCE! City almost make it three as Maicon latches on to a loose ball but curls just wide.
The 7.45pm kickoffs are now coming to an end.
Chelsea 0-0 Fulham, Everton 1-1 Arsenal, Southampton 1-1 Norwich, Stoke 2-1 Newcastle, Swansea 3-1 West Brom, Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool
Goalscorer Milner's stint on the pitch was a short one as he comes off injured, with Kolo Toure on in his place.
City are coasting home here. No sign of Wigan even nicking a consolation.
Click here to read our match reports from the games that have finished.
Three minutes added on.
Final change for Wigan as Callum McManaman comes on for Stam.
Wigan 0-2 City
City win through in the end to make it 20 unbeaten games in the Premier League. That's two short of their record set in 1937.
Mancini's men didn't play to their best but just about did enough against a fairly blunt Wigan side.
City remain a point behind United at the top but the pair have now pulled away from the sides below. City are now six clear of Chelsea in third.
Thanks for joining Sports Mole this evening. Be sure to look out for our match analysis that should be on site in half an hour's time. Until next time, good night!
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
Pascal Lemesre
