Wigan
Brighton meanwhile were pleased to welcome Leon Knight back into their team after he was suspended for the opening three games, from which Brighton only managed one solitary point.
It was clear from the first minute that the Seagulls would be happy with a 0-0 as they sat back and kept ten men behind the ball, with just pocket Knight showing any attacking intent.
As seen in previous years at the JJB, this tactic often works as the crowd get on the backs of certain players and the game plan instilled by Paul Jewell goes out the window and the hopeless long balls invade. This was not the case against
It lead to a dull first half with little to talk about but the team seemed to know that they had enough creativity to eventually break down
However manager Jewell seemed to know that his team would eventually get restless without a goal as he said: "They came to frustrate us and sat very, very deep defensively and to a certain extent it worked. The Duke scored a goal out of nothing, it wasn't even a chance really although it was a good ball from Jason. We came in at half time with our chins up rather than hitting the floor."
The team kept its shape and organisation and did not resort to the long balls, despite a few restless calls from the South Stand. It paid off as 
Half Time
At 1-0 down the
The Duke profited from this as he ran with the ball to around 20 yards out to the left hand side of the area, he cut inside and curled an absolutely amazing strike into the top corner of the net.
“He [Ellington] can have you climbing the walls at times but he was quality today. He has that ability in the locker, he can do outrageous things, so we were pleased with the first goal, and his second was a fabulous goal.” commented Jewell about his star striker and continued, “I would have also like to have seen the Duke get his hat-trick, seen Jason Roberts score and also see David Graham score too." But who’s being greedy?
The game was only ever going to continue in this vain and it soon became a question of how many were the Latics going to score as wave after wave of 
Michel Kuipers in the
Such was the Latics dominance that the stands where cheering passes as the
Brighton were possibly denied a penalty in the final five minutes as lively substitute Robert Jarrett, wearing 18, was brought down by David Wright on the right hand side of the area. Mark McGhee was not too impressed, not that it would have made a difference.
Player Ratings
Wigan
John Filan 7 – A quiet afternoon
David Wright 7 – Solid defensive display
Ian Breckin 7 – Again, solid.
Matt Jackson 7 – Marshalled the back line well.
Leighton Baines 7 – Dealt with Currie well.
Gary Teale 6 – Couldn’t beat Harding.
Jimmy Bullard 8 – Ran the game in the middle.
Per Frandsen 7 – Superb goal.
Lee McCulloch 7 – Dangerous going forward.
Jason Roberts 7 – Didn’t have many chances.
Nathan Ellington 9 – Very sharp display and two great goals.
Subs
David Graham 7 – Unlucky not to score.
Nicky Eaden 6 – Didn’t have enough time.
Emerson Thome 6 – One hair raising moment with
Brighton
Kuipers 8
Virgo 4
Cullip 5
Butters 6
Harding 8
Currie 3
Hinshelwood 3
Nicolas 4
Mayo 4
Molango 4
Knight 5
Subs
Jarrett 7
Robinson 6
The Championship TableLast game played on
Saturday 21st August 2004Pld Home Away Overall Pts GD W D L F A W D L F A W D L F A 1 Wigan Athletic 4 1 1 0 4 1 2 0 0 5 1 3 1 0 9 2 10 +7 2 Plymouth Argyle 4 1 1 0 2 1 2 0 0 3 0 3 1 0 5 1 10 +4 3 Reading 4 2 0 0 4 2 1 0 1 1 1 3 0 1 5 3 9 +2 4 Stoke City 4 2 0 0 4 1 0 2 0 1 1 2 2 0 5 2 8 +3 5 Ipswich Town 4 2 0 0 5 2 0 1 1 3 4 2 1 1 8 6 7 +2 6 Millwall 4 1 0 1 2 2 1 1 0 1 0 2 1 1 3 2 7 +1 7 West Ham United 4 1 0 1 2 3 1 1 0 3 2 2 1 1 5 5 7 0 8 Watford 4 1 0 1 3 1 1 0 1 2 2 2 0 2 5 3 6 +2 9 Derby County 4 1 0 1 4 4 1 0 1 2 1 2 0 2 6 5 6 +1 10 Burnley 4 0 2 0 2 2 1 1 0 1 0 1 3 0 3 2 6 +1 11 Gillingham 4 2 0 0 4 2 0 0 2 1 4 2 0 2 5 6 6 -1 12 Leeds United 4 1 1 0 2 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 3 3 5 0 13 Sheffield United 4 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 2 1 1 2 1 2 2 5 0 14 Nottingham Forest 4 0 2 0 3 3 0 2 0 2 2 0 4 0 5 5 4 0 15 Coventry City 4 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 1 2 3 1 1 2 4 4 4 0 16 Sunderland 4 1 1 0 5 3 0 0 2 1 4 1 1 2 6 7 4 -1 17 Preston North End 4 1 0 1 2 2 0 1 1 3 4 1 1 2 5 6 4 -1 18 Cardiff City 4 1 0 1 2 2 0 1 1 3 5 1 1 2 5 7 4 -2 19 Leicester City 4 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 2 3 1 1 2 2 4 4 -2 20 Wolverhampton Wanderers 4 0 2 0 2 2 0 1 1 2 3 0 3 1 4 5 3 -1 21 Rotherham United 4 0 2 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 2 0 3 1 2 3 3 -1 22 Crewe Alexandra 4 0 1 1 4 5 0 1 1 3 5 0 2 2 7 10 2 -3 23 Queens Park Rangers 4 0 1 1 1 3 0 1 1 2 5 0 2 2 3 8 2 -5 24 Brighton & Hove Albion 4 0 1 1 1 3 0 0 2 2 6 0 1 3 3 9 1 -6
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