Norwich City 2 Wigan Athletic 0

Last updated : 09 April 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Second-half goals from Mathias Svensson and Darren Huckerby secured a deserved win for Norwich against hard-working Wigan.

The home side kicked off and John Filan was called into action in the second minute tipping over defender Malky Mackay's snap shot.

Huckerby ran through the Wigan defence in the ninth minute but his low cross from the left ran across the face of goal without a Norwich player on hand to convert the chance, before Leon McKenzie cut in from the right wing but his shot went straight at Filan.

When the visitors counter attacked Robert Green comfortably saved Jimmy Bullard's long-range strike.

McKenzie got a touch to Kevin Cooper's left wing corner but the ball went a yard wide of the near post.

Bullard tried another long-range shot but could only find the side netting and Jason Roberts also hit the side netting, but from closer range with only Green to beat.

Wigan did their fair share of attacking with Roberts and Nathan Ellington causing problems for the home defence but most of the goal attempts were from long range.

When Huckerby did thread the ball through to McKenzie, Filan pulled off a one-handed save to deny the striker.

Norwich took the lead ten minutes into the second half when a determined run by Huckerby ended with the ball at the feet of Svensson. His left foot shot from 22 yards beat the Wigan keeper high to his right, giving the Swede his fourth goal in three games.

After soaking up pressure from the visitors Norwich counter attacked but Huckerby's left wing cross was headed over by Damien Francis.

In the next Norwich raid Svensson was unlucky to see his shot come back off the post, but the home fans did not have to wait long for the second goal, which came in the 72nd minute.

Svensson released Huckerby and he dribbled through the Wigan defence before finishing with a right foot shot to Filan's left from the edge of the six yard box.

Once again the home side had some defending to do to preserve their 2-0 lead and with three minutes to go Bullard rattled Green's crossbar with another long-range strike.