Newcastle United 1- 0 Wigan Athletic: Cabaye off mark with vital strike

YOHAN Cabaye picked a fine time to score his first goal for Newcastle as the Frenchman’s 80th-minute strike sank gutsy Wigan at St James’ Park.

The summer signing from Lille curled home a knock back by substitute Sylvain Marveaux to finally end the resistance of the visitors, who have now lost six games in a row.

Meanwhile, Alan Pardew’s men continue to ride high after stretching their unbeaten Barclays Premier League start to nine games despite struggling for much of the afternoon.

The Magpies may have been expecting an easy day as Roberto Martinez’s men ventured north on the back of five straight losses. But, with midfielder Hugo Rodallega starting his first game after a month out with a knee injury, Wigan men were far from over-awed and dominated the early stages.

They should have gone ahead in the fifth minute when Rodallega headed down for Victor Moses to volley a rising shot which was superbly tipped away by Tim Krul.

Newcastle got back on track though and squandered a number of chances throughout the game. The frustration was beginning to tell as a scything run down the left from Ben Arfa moments later ended in a low shot which was blocked well by Ali Al Habsi as the Magpies made a belated bid to wrest back the momentum. And they seized it in style in the 80th minute when Marveaux played the ball back to Cabaye who curled a right foot shot past Al Habsi.

The visitors still had time to push for an equaliser, but Moses trickled a cross across the face of goal and Mohamed Diame headed a good chance wide.