CHAMPIONSHIP

WEST Bromwich Albion’s lead at the top of the Championship was cut to a point as Wigan climbed out of the relegation zone with a deserved victory at The Hawthorns.

Sam Morsy drilled home from 12 yards to end the Baggies’ six-game unbeaten run and earn the in-form Latics a third successive victory.

Wigan could have been in front much earlier but Gavin Massey’s diving header hit the post, while Albion keeper Sam Johnstone denied Morsy, Joe Williams and Gary Roberts.

Filip Krovinovic twice went close for an otherwise belowpar Baggies, who have Leeds United, comfortable 4-0 winners at Hull City earlier on Saturday, breathing down their necks in the race for the title.

Leeds further strengthened their grip on a place in the top two with a fourth successive victory against out-of-form Hull.

The Whites remain five points clear of Fulham, who beat Preston North End later on Saturday, and have closed the gap to leaders West Brom to just one point.

Head coach Marcelo Bielsa handed a first league start to 19-year-old Illan Meslier, with first-choice goalkeeper Kiko Casilla beginning an eightmatch ban for racial abuse.

But the on-loan shot-stopper was seldom troubled as the dominant visitors kept a fourth straight clean sheet.

Leeds went ahead inside the opening five minutes as Luke Ayling’s 20-yard strike took a huge deflection off Callum Elder and spun into the corner of the net.

Having already rattled a shot against the angle of crossbar and post soon after Ayling’s opener, former Swansea City player Pablo Hernandez doubled United’s advantage at the start of the second half with a cool finish past George Long.

Welsh striker Tyler Roberts completed the scoring with two more goals in the final 10 minutes, first firing in following Mateusz Klich’s classy lay-off and then heading home after another Klich assist.

David Nugent’s own goal and Aboubakar Kamara’s injurytime effort ensured Fulham edged past promotion rivals Preston North End to keep up the pressure on West Brom and Leeds.

Nugent could only flick on an Anthony Knockaert corner and the ball looped past keeper Declan Rudd into the far corner.

Preston, who have now lost three of their past four games, had the better of the first half, with Sean Maguire having an effort ruled out for offside and Alan Browne forcing a decent save from keeper Marek Rodak.

But Fulham steadily improved after Nugent’s unfortunate intervention, and substitute Kamara wrapped it up.