Wigan Athletic edge closer to playoff place

Wigan Athletic have moved a step closer to a Championship playoff place with a 1-0 win over Leeds United.

Martyn Waghorn scored the only goal of a close game which saw the Latics move nine points clear of seventh-place Nottingham Forest.

In an even opening period with few opportunities to score, the best chance fell to James Perch, who flicked his header wide after connecting with Jordi Gomez's cross.

The former Newcastle United man was also lucky not to get sent off in the first 30 minutes after being penalised for two separate elbows, but only receiving a yellow card for one of them.

After a short period of Leeds pressure, though, the hosts took the lead thanks, in part, to the referee.

Neil Swarbrick played the advantage that allowed Waghorn to collect the ball and fire into the bottom corner despite an earlier foul.

The second half began in similar fashion to the first, with a few scrappy fouls and the absence of any real chances.

That was until the 57th minute, when Matt Smith rose highest in the box but unfortunately for Leeds, he could not direct his header on target.

Wigan remained relatively comfortable thereafter, until a delicate chip from Ross McCormack had Ali Al-Habsi scrambling back towards his goal only to see it land wide, before Gomez missed an excellent chance to seal the points, slicing horribly from Marc-Antoine Fortune cutback.

It didn't matter in the end, though, as Wigan secured all three points and all but secure a playoff place.