Wigan's second string prove just too good for Magpies

With just three minutes remaining David Connolly stroked a match-winning penalty to send a toothless, hopeless and dreadful Magpies side home as losers; dumped out of the Carling Cup by what amounted to a Wigan reserve side.

The 4,800 fanatical Geordies inside the freezing cold JJB Stadium made their frustrations known at the final whistle by demanding the removal of Graeme Souness from the manager's chair.

There may have been questions raised whether defender Robbie Elliott did haul down Jason Roberts in the final moments but there is no doubting Newcastle deserved to lose this contest.

It took Souness' side an hour to force their first corner and they were completely overran during a first half in which they only had Shay Given to thank that they had not been given a humiliating footballing lesson.

Given made save after save to deny Wigan, who rested a number of the performers that have given them such a fantastic start to life in the Premiership.

If talk was rife of Wigan's bubble bursting after the weekend defeat to Tottenham then this proved otherwise - even if it was against a Newcastle team who should be ashamed to call themselves a Premiership outfit last night.

Such is the defensive crisis at the club, with arguably the strongest back four all ruled out for one reason more another, Souness incredibly toyed with the idea of playing Shearer as a centre-back.

Titus Bramble, who had been expected to start, suffered more injury hell and was ruled out with a groin problem. He joined Stephen Carr, Celestine Babayaro and Steven Taylor on the sidelines.

Nevertheless to see Shearer, one of this country's greatest all-time goalscorers, lining up alongside Albert Luque in attack would have come as a huge relief to the travelling support.

What it did mean was teenage winger Charles N'Zogbia played at left-back and Latics, clearly buoyed by the faces in the Newcastle defence, immediately went on the attack.

Had Shearer turned defender for the night Wigan could have been out of sight before the interval.

Connolly, only playing because manager Paul Jewell wanted to rest Henri Camara, found himself in space on the left. But his dangerous centre into the near post was turned marginally wide by Andreas Johansson.

And Wigan threatened again when Johansson's header was deflected for the first of three successive corners when he met Gary Teale's deep cross.

That was just the start of the barrage. Wave after wave of Wigan attacks had to be dealt with and, be it good fortune and poor finishing rather than strong defending, they were.

A superb low, one handed save from the irreplaceable Given down to his right denied Lee McCulloch a goal from 25-yards just after quarter of an hour.

While Johansson placed a header and a volley straight into the arms of the Irishman within a minute of each other, as plenty of good work from Wigan down the left went unrewarded.

Newcastle's midfield quartet struggled to come to terms with the tenacity of their lower-paid Wigan counterparts, and Souness attempted to change the flow of the game by switching Nolberto Solano back to his favoured right-midfield role.

However, the change failed to have the desired effect and Newcastle continued to be second best all over the pitch - apart from in goal.

In the next instance, the gritty McCulloch watched in amazement as Given flicked one of his shots behind for a corner when flying towards the top corner.

And then, quite outstandingly, the Newcastle keeper somehow made a remarkable double save to deny McCulloch and Connolly in quick succession.

Newcastle's season may have struggled to get off the ground but, even during their anaemic start, they have never been outplayed for an opening 45 minutes like they were last night - even against Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Solano continued to be passed from pillar to post and was asked to play left-midfield after the break when Lee Bowyer, one of a handful of ineffectual big names, was replaced by Martin Brittain.

And, after Scott Parker had volleyed narrowly wide from 18 yards, Michael Chopra followed him on to the field 12 minutes later. Off went expensive Spaniard Luque and it was then Newcastle began to look like stealing a result.

Emre's last contribution, before hobbling off holding his hamstring, was to see his shot turned onto the post by goalkeeper Mike Pollitt - but that failed to hide another disappointing away display from the Turk.

Newcastle's improvements failed to quieten Wigan, who still pushed forward looking for the winner and Teale's embarrassing miss from inside six yards summed up the home side's night.

And when Given made his first memorable save of the second half, when he turned a Jason Roberts header onto the woodwork, the Lancastrian supporters must have thought a chance of progress was passing them by.

But then Newcastle got what the deserved. Elliott's tug on Roberts in the box was judged to have warranted a penalty. Taylor stepped up and sent Given the wrong way to send the Latics through.

l Blackburn staged an amazing late comeback to win 3-2 against Charlton at The Valley after going two goals down.

Danny Murphy's vision set up the opener for Darren Ambrose eight minutes before the interval, before the Addicks playmaker doubled the lead himself in the 50th minute.

Rovers striker Shefki Kuqi pulled one back with 15 minutes remaining, with David Thompson then levelling six minutes later. David Bentley snatched a dramatic late winner two minutes from full-time.

l Sheffield United have given Portsmouth permission to talk to manager Neil Warnock.

Warnock, 57 today, has been favourite to succeed Alain Perrin at Fratton Park since the Frenchman was sacked by chairman Milan Mandaric last week following Pompey's poor start to the season.

A statement from the Yorkshire club read: ''After a long discussion and careful consideration Sheffield United have reluctantly agreed, conditional on suitable compensation, to make Neil Warnock available to speak to Portsmouth."

Result: Wigan 1, Newcastle United 0.

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