Newcastle continued their string of strong results to start the 2011/12 season with a home win against struggling Wigan Athletic, but they weren't exactly convincing in earning those three points, especially when you consider how spectacular the Magpies looked during the 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur last week.
Newcastle Vs. Wigan, 2011 Premier League: Magpies Earn Narrow 1-0 Win
Wigan were allowed an astonishing amount of possession at St. James' Park, and if a lesser goalkeeper than Tim Krul manned the sticks for the hosts the Latics could easily have gone ahead in the first half. Fortunately for Newcastle, Krul was up to the task, beating away Victor Moses' volley in spectacular fashion to keep the score level with just five minutes gone.
Alan Pardew's men were never in complete control of the match, but that didn't matter as they struck late in the second half thanks to Yohan Cabaye, who curled a shot around the impressive Ali Al-Habsi from the edge of the area with 80 minutes gone. There was time enough for Wigan to mount a few more raids into home territory and they should probably have equalised when a Moses cross got through the Newcastle defence but also magically avoided every Blue shirt in the box, and the hosts walked away the with three points. Unconvincing? Yes. But at the end of the day, it doesn't much matter.
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