DIAME JUST THE JOB FOR RAFA
RAFA BENITEz hailed Mohamed Diame — as well as his team’s tenacity — as Newcastle United returned to the top of the Championship thanks to this gritty win over woeful Wigan.
Goals from former Latics star Diame and Christian Atsu secured the victory but it was not pretty on a night where toil trumped talent at the DW Stadium.
Yet the manner of the win will cause few sleepless nights in the Benitez household and he picked out Diame for special praise after he helped twist the knife into his old team.
Benitez said: ‘I think that we said last week that Diame was working very hard and I’m really pleased with the goal that he scored.
‘He tries to do the things that the team needs but at the same time he’s scoring goals. I’m really pleased for him because it is good for his confidence.
‘We tried to play well and if we can then perfect because we will have more chances to win games, but if not we have to just work hard and try to win.’
Diame looked threatening from the off, forcing Wigan goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen into a fine early save with a 25-yard effort.
Diame, hot- shot striker Dwight Gayle and Jonjo Shelvey all started brightly. This allowed Newcastle to move through the gears at their leisure and the breakthrough came after 26 minutes when Diame scored a fine opener.
Isaac Hayden and the Frenchborn midfielder showed a fine understanding of each other’s game as they passed their way through the Wigan defence before Diame slotted home past Jaaskelainen.
Newcastle failed to build on their lead in the first half but Wigan’s frailty at the back was there for all to see as nobody in their backline took control.
Shelvey came closest to doubling the lead just before half-time but Jaaskelainen, who is still playing well at the age of 41, diverted his shot wide.
After the interval, Wigan started brightly as Will Grigg began to cause trouble and he missed a decent headed opportunity on the hour mark as Benitez’s side started to look stretched.
However, the Latics cannot score at home — it’s now 452 minutes since they netted at the DW Stadium when they beat Wolves on September 27 — and substitute Atsu made them pay towards the end to show why Newcastle are top of the table.
Wigan boss Warren Joyce said: ‘There was not enough of that devilment or aggression that you need to get a goal. I think the positive we have is that I don’t think anyone has played us off the park.’