BEFORE Saturday's embarrassing defeat at the JJB Stadium it had been 51 years since Newcastle United last played Wigan Athletic.

That FA Cup encounter in January 1954 went to a replay at Latics then home, Springfield Park, with the Magpies winning 3-2 after being held 2-2 at St James' Park.

The main talking point of the game was the goal that never was.

According to the Wigan Observer of the day 'Jackie Lyon cracked a high shot eight minutes into the second half that Newcastle goalkeeper, Ronnie Simpson, grabbed but its force compelled him to sway backwards so that the ball he was clutching passed about a foot over the line.

'Practically everybody apart from the referee considered the shot to be a goal'.

History often has a habit of repeating itself and on Saturday practically everyone who could see the goal-line believed Alan Shearer's 65th minute header had crossed the goal-line - apart from assistant referee Andy Williams.

Referee Phil Dowd couldn't quite be sure so he looked to his Herefordshire assistant for guidance. None was forthcoming so a goal it wasn't.

"I think it crossed the line," was Shearer's take. "The linesman's in a decent enough position and I think he's made a mistake but people make them, don't they?

"My reaction straight away was that it had crossed the line because I was aware the defender (Leighton Baines) was behind the line by a yard or a yard and a half so if the ball hits him, it must go over the line."

Despite his desire to talk about the incident, Graeme Souness fought the urge in a bid to save on his wallet.

What will have concerned the Newcastle manager is that despite Wigan deciding to hold on to a one-goal lead for the whole of the second half, the Magpies were frustrated in their attempts to break them down.

"It was one of those days, and no disrespect, but we should be coming to places like Wigan and getting three points," said goalkeeper Shay Given.

"Everyone was low in the dressing room because this was a massive disappointment for the team, and for me personally a very disappointing week, with this result finishing it off.

"But you can't feel sorry for yourself.

"You just have to dust yourself down because we've got Sunderland next week which is a huge game for the whole club when we have to get three points and nothing less."

Before the goal that never was came the goal five minutes before the interval which ensured it was a very quiet second half for the large away following.

A super move started by Pascal Chimbonda in Wigan's own half saw the full back play a ball into Henri Camara 40 yards out with his back to goal.

His clever flick laid the ball into the path of the on-rushing Damien Francis.

Jason Roberts peeled off the Newcastle defence far too easily and when Francis found him on the right side of the Magpies penalty area he slid the ball through the legs of the advancing Given.

Both sides had hit the post prior to the goal with Roberts latching on to a poor back header from the out-of-sorts Jean-Alain Boumsong to hit Given's right hand upright, and Lee Bowyer doing likewise just before the half hour.

Bowyer added to Newcastle injury list, limping off before half time with a knee problem that should keep him out for weeks rather than days.

Newcastle were much improved in the second half with Emre replacing the ineffective Amdy Faye, but with Michael Owen running down blind alleys and substitute Shola Ameobi running into trouble more often than not they had little to show for their efforts.

Shearer's header that never was and a left footed shot from the skipper that slipped past the post with two minutes left were the two main chances.

Emre was involved in the other major incident of the second half with Lee McCulloch red-carded for scything down the Turkey international, who was at the hub of most of Newcastle's best play.

Shearer and Souness both believed it remains when rather than if video evidence will be used to clear up goal-line incidents.

"Football's a frustrating business," said Souness.

"When things don't work out the way you want them to work out it can be very frustrating.

"You would hope that over a season these things even themselves out."

For the Wigan fans with long memories they'll believe it has taken half a century for things to even themselves out.

Result: Wigan Athletic 1, Newcastle United 0.

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