Sorry Rams beaten again

Second-half goals from Paul Scharner and Antonio Valencia gave the Latics a richly-deserved win, extending the visitors' winless streak in the league to 21 matches.

While Derby have one foot in the Championship, the result lifts Wigan up to 14th and four points clear of the relegation zone.

Derby began with a lone striker in Kenny Miller, who at times was 50 yards behind his midfield such was their depth as they sat in front of the defence.

It allowed Wigan to dominate the first half after an early sixth-minute scare when Hossam Ghaly teed up Stephen Pearson, only for the midfielder to fire tamely at Chris Kirkland.

After that it was all the Latics, with their first clear chance arriving in the 14th minute when Kevin Kilbane directed a Mario Melchiot cross directly at Roy Carroll from seven yards.

Then 11 minutes later Melchiot was denied the opener as his back-heel from five yards was cleared to safety by Giles Barnes, although replays appeared to show the whole of the ball had crossed the line.

On the hour mark Carroll made a superb double save to deny Heskey, first blocking a downward header and then tipping away the rebound from a right-foot half-volley.

But the ball was directed into Scharner's path and he hooked home his fifth goal of the season from three yards into an empty net.

The Latics added a second in the 84th minute when Valencia was picked out by a raking pass from Wilson Palacios and he rifled an eight-yard left-foot drive into the roof of the net.