TECHNICALLY speaking, Glenn Roeder is about to enter his final week in charge of Newcastle United. Reality suggests, however, that the acting manager might not be finished yet.

United hope they can secure dispensation for Roeder to continue beyond the time limit set by the Premiership for temporary managers without the necessary coaching credentials.

And looking further ahead, the former Newcastle captain cannot be ruled out of the running for the job on a permanent basis if Martin O’Neill finds employment elsewhere. Roeder has revitalised Newcastle since replacing the under-achieving Graeme Souness at the start of February, with yesterday’s third successive win, secured thanks largely to two more goals from playing deputy Alan Shearer, keeping alive an entry into Europe.

Should O’Neill not land the England post then it would appear only the prospect of European competition would take him anywhere other than St James’ Park, with Middlesbrough, seeking that prize through both the FA and Uefa Cups, suggested as a possible alternative under the growing belief that Steve McClaren will pip the Ulsterman for Sven-Göran Eriksson’s job.

Paul Jewell’s name was not linked with the Newcastle job for long, though that is no reflection on the achievements of the Wigan manager, whose side was beaten here for the first time in seven away league games. Jimmy Bullard gave Wigan an early lead but the prospect of a third win of the season over Newcastle did not linger once Shearer launched the comeback.

Roeder had attributed Newcastle’s success in their previous two victories to the positive manner in which they had started, and they looked to continue that trend with another up-tempo opening in which Kieron Dyer might have marked only his third Premiership start of another injury-wrecked season with his first goal with a sharper finish.

Shola Ameobi was guilty of a worse miss after eight minutes when he headed wide from a matter of feet rather than yards, shortly before becoming one of four players to go off injured within 20 minutes, and by then Wigan were in front. Bullard was at least 25 yards from goal when he was given his opportunity after Titus Bramble had fouled David Thompson and the midfielder, again one of Wigan’s most consistent performers, did not waste it, curling a perfectly placed free kick beyond Shay Given.

Lee McCulloch had an opportunity to double the lead following further invention from Bullard but Wigan’s prospects of defending their advantage were not helped by the early loss of central defenders Matt Jackson, who injured a knee in a collision which cost Ameobi two front teeth, and Arjan De Zeeuw with a broken collar bone.

And the re-shuffled defence took just minutes to crack as Reto Ziegler pushed substitute Michael Copra to the ground following a Charles N’Zogbia cross. Shearer kept his compulsory cool to score from the penalty spot.

Wigan’s lack of aerial power was more apparent nine minutes before half-time when Newcastle took the lead thanks to Bramble’s first league goal for 15 months, headed home unmarked from a Nolberto Solano corner.

With McCulloch also hobbling off, Wigan had used all of their substitutes by the 43rd minute, but Graham Kavanagh’s shot flew just wide to remind them that they were not without hope.

Newcastle’s efforts to kill the game off after the break were more laboured, although their growing pressure finally paid off after 66 minutes.

Robbie Elliott had landed a speculative cross on to the top of the bar, while John Filan needed two attempts to keep out a Solano volley before Shearer again did the business, timing his run perfectly to collect a Chopra pass and round Filan to roll in his 13th goal of his final season.

Star Man: Nolberto Solano (Newcastle)

Player Ratings: Newcastle: Given 6, Carr 6, Moore 6, Bramble 7, Elliott 6, Solano 8, Bowyer 6 (Faye 8min, 6), Dyer 7 (Clark 75min, 6), N’Zogbia 7, Shearer 8, Ameobi 5 (Chopra 18min, 7)

Wigan: Filan 6, Chimbonda 6, Jackson 6 (Baines 20min, 6), De Zeeuw 6 (Scharner 17min, 6), Ziegler 5, Thompson 6, Kavanagh 7, Johansson 5, Bullard 7, Roberts 5, McCulloch 6 (Camara 43min, 5)

Scorers: Newcastle: Shearer 28 pen, 66, Bramble 36 Wigan: Bullard 5

Referee: U Rennie

Attendance: 52,302

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