Played
August 27, 2011 7:30 AM EDT
The DW Stadium — Wigan
Referee: M. Oliver
Attendance: 17225
August 27, 2011 7:30 AM EDT
The DW Stadium — Wigan
Referee: M. Oliver
Attendance: 17225
Top of the Match
Hugo Rodallega
Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic
Adel Taarabt
QPR
QPR
Flop of the Match
Matthew Connolly
QPR
QPR
Fitz Hall
QPR
QPR
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Wigan Athletic 2-0 QPR: Classy brace from Franco Di Santo hands Latics first win of Premier League season
The visitors hit the woodwork three times but suffered their second defeat of the season as Roberto Martinez's men maintained their fine start to the campaign
By Alex Fisher at the DW Stadium
Getty Images
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Wigan made it five points from its first three games of the season with a 2-0 victory over QPR at the DW Stadium. Franco Di Santo netted both goals for the Latics.
Roberto Martinez made two changes to the side that drew against Swansea, with Adrian Lopez replacing the injured Antolin Alcaraz at the heart of the defence and Hugo Rodallega replacing James McCarthy.
QPR made just one change from the side that won at Goodison Park last weekend – new signing Bruno Perone was handed his Premier League debut in place of Bradley Orr. There was no place for fellow new arrival Joey Barton who watched from the stands, while DJ Campbell was ruled out with a virus and striker Jay Bothroyd was only fit enough to be named on the bench.
The game was a close affair, although the home side looked the sharper in front of goal early on. Victor Moses had the best of chances, but was denied by Paddy Kenny. Meanwhile, Adel Taarabt looked good for QPR, causing a couple of scares, but creating no goals for the away team.
Yet with halftime approaching the Latics took the lead and control of the match; Di Santo picked up a pass from Moses before smashing a volley past Kenny to open the scoring in some style.
Way to Gomez | Wigan was too good for Rangers at the DW Stadium
Rangers struggled to find an answer in the second half and indeed the hosts extended their lead just after the hour mark. Again it was Di Santo, who pinched the ball off his teammate Rodallega just inside the box and sent a deflected shot high into the top corner.
Yet QPR could have had one back, only to be denied by the woodwork for the third time in the match when Bruno Perone could only head onto the bar from a corner. Despite the threats, though, Wigan was able to hold on for a vital win.
The defeat will be a blow to the away side following last weekend's victory over Everton, although it will look forward with relish to its next fixture, which sees the team take on Joey Barton's former side Newcastle at Loftus Road.
Wigan, meanwhile, having now faced all three promoted sides in its first three fixtures, have the rather more daunting task of a trip to Manchester City in its next Premier League outing.
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In EDT
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Robin van Persie Striker Man United |
26 | 3 |
|
Luis Suárez Striker Liverpool |
23 | 0 |
|
Gareth Bale Midfielder Tottenham |
21 | 0 |
|
C. Benteke Striker Aston Villa |
19 | 3 |
|
Michu Midfielder Swansea City |
19 | 0 |
