Smash hit

“Unfortunately, his trailing knee hits the player. I never want to see a player injured, of course, but it is a man’s game.”

Newcastle failed to recover from Beye’s afternoon being cut short, Taylor forcing Given into a save in the 52nd minute before Valencia drilled a low ball across the six-yard area after leaving Charles N’Zogbia trailing in his wake.

Having started the afternoon seeking a third successive win, Newcastle ended it reduced to ten men after Bassong was shown a straight red card for his tug on Heskey inside the area. Dean immediately pointed to the penalty spot, which allowed Zaki to extend his goal tally into double figures.

Given ensured that Newcastle were not further embarrassed, the Ireland goalkeeper producing a fine stop to deny Wilson Palacios a goal on his return from suspension, before Danny Guthrie hit a consolation goal from the penalty spot in the 88th minute after Chris Kirkland had fouled Andrew Carroll, the substitute.

In an enthralling finale, there was still time for Duff to miss a great chance to equalise, but the truth is that Newcastle did not deserve a point.

Wigan Athletic 4-4-2: C Kirkland 7 M Melchiot 7 P Scharner 9 T Bramble 7 M Figueroa 7 A Valencia 7 L Cattermole 7 W Palacios 7 R Taylor 8 A Zaki 7 E Heskey 7 Substitutes M Brown 6 (for Taylor, 70min), H Camara (for Heskey, 85), K Kilbane (for Palacios, 90). Not used M Pollitt, E Boyce, J Koumas, D De Ridder.

Newcastle United 4-4-2: S Given 7 H Beye 6 F Coloccini 7 S Bassong 5 C N’Zogbia 7 J Gutiérrez 7 N Butt 7 D Guthrie 7 D Duff 7 M Viduka 7 M Owen 7 Substitutes S Taylor 6 (for Beye, 37min), A Carroll 5 (for Viduka, 67), D Edgar (for Owen, 77). Not used S Harper, Gérémi, Xisco, K LuaLua.

Referee: M Dean (Wirral).

Star man: Paul Scharner
The best defender on the pitch. The Austria player taught Newcastle’s error-ridden back four a lesson or two with two excellent challenges on Michael Owen to frustrate the England forward.

Window watch
Despite Amr Zaki’s appearance on the scoresheet for Wigan, Steve Bruce could do with a new forward. Although the Wigan manager confirmed after the game that the club had not received an offer for Emile Heskey, speculation will not go away. For Newcastle, a left back would be ideal after the loss of José Enrique. With Mark Viduka suffering a torn groin on his first start of the season, Newcastle could also do with a forward to partner Michael Owen.