Hughes unhappy at ref's silence after Wigan thump Blackburn

Clattenburg sent off Rovers defender Brett Emerton before a hotly disputed goal sealed relegation haunted Wigan's first victory in four months and Blackburn's fourth defeat in six games.

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Only Arsenal in top gear have managed to slip more goals past Blackburn's defence during Hughes' three-year regime, and his out-of-sorts team are in danger of being left behind by the leading group.

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For all Blackburn's 'unacceptable' defending in an astonishing first half when revitalised Wigan sent their fans delirious by taking a 3-0 lead in 36 minutes, Hughes felt Clattenburg owed him an explanation.

Maybe the referee decided he had done enough talking as Brad Friedel, Chris Samba and David Dunn opened a lively full-time debate with the officials while Wigan celebrated a first win under Steve Bruce.

Hughes said: "We tried to get in to see him but he is refusing to speak to my assistant manager. I thought we were allowed to speak to the referee 30 minutes after the game but he said he was going home.

"We've sat down before to discuss incidents and their thinking on it, to try to take a considered view. But if you don't get the opportunity it doesn't help the relationship between managers and refs. He should at least do us the courtesy of explaining his decisions."

Blackburn's players, 4-3 down but not quite out with 10 minutes left, were incensed when the linesman's flag stayed down for former Rover Marcus Bent to complete his first Barclays Premier League hat-trick.

Hughes said: "We let ourselves down defensively but there were big calls for their last two goals being offside. An assistant referee has to help the referee and I thought he got two decisions wrong.

"I'm seeing assistant referees I've never seen before. I don't know where they come from or how much experience they have. At times they make it more difficult for the referee to do an already difficult job."

Hughes did accept that Blackburn's own shortcomings played a major role in their downfall.

First, Benni McCarthy had a weak penalty saved by Chris Kirkland.

"That miss maybe summed up our day," said Hughes.

Then, trailing 3-2 with more than half-an-hour left, Emerton, already booked, allowed himself to be drawn into a feud with Ryan Taylor and was sent off following a petulant kick off the ball.

That played into the nervous hands of Wigan, who had stormed into a comfortable lead through Denny Landzaat, Bent and Paul Scharner — impressive in his original centre-half berth.

They were stunned, though, by Roque Santa Cruz's brilliant goal seconds before halftime and their anxieties increased when the striker completed a hat-trick either side of Emerton's red card.

On-loan Bent saved us from a seasonal blizzard of 'Santa' headlines with a bullet header to restore Wigan's lead before sweeping in his third, despite provider Julius Aghahowa's marginal offside.

Bent said: "It's a proud moment but I'm a bit dazed by it all. Blackburn hold a special place in my heart — I was promoted with them and I've lots of friends there. My first goals at the JJB feel nice but the three points are more important.

"I nicked the match ball before Santa Cruz could get anywhere near it."

It was not all delight for Bruce, three games in from succeeding Chris Hutchings.

Talisman Emile Heskey, only just back from a broken foot, will be out again for several weeks after damaging an ankle.

Bruce said: "Marcus owed me that hat-trick, I've tried to sign him three times from Ipswich and Charlton and he's turned me down. We'll need him. It's never going to soften the blow of losing Emile.

"You have to win at least 10 Premier League games to give yourself a chance. We've now won three. If we keep showing that, then we have a chance."

FABIO'S FILE

RYAN TAYLOR (Wigan Athletic, age 23) BACK to full fitness after a broken leg halted his progress following a £750,000 move from Tranmere, the right-sided midfielder or defender showed the form that won him four England Under 21 caps.