14/11/2007 19:19, Report by Nick Coppack
Reserves: Wigan 0 United 1
A shot of Brandy made all the difference on a cold evening at Wigan's JJB Stadium.
Febian Brandy pounced on a defensive mix-up five minutes after the break to score his sixth of the season and the only goal of the game as United's Reserves beat Wigan Athletic's second-string 1-0.
The Reds' win, while less than scintillating, was thoroughly deserved and saw Brian McClair's side leap to fourth in the league.
United's grasp on the game was never in question and Sam Hewson threatened as early as the first minute with a shot from distance. That effort sailed over the bar and Hewson was again unlucky 10 minutes later when his goalbound effort was deflected by a Wigan defender for a corner.
By that stage, the home side had already been forced into an early substitution. Goalkeeper Russell Saunders was replaced in the third minute after injuring his groin, making way for 16-year-old Neil Postlethwaite.At the other end, there was a change of goalkeeper for United when Ben Amos, making his Reserves debut, limped off on 52 minutes after making a routine save. Substitute stopper Gary Woods was kept relatively quiet, although the Latics did see half chances fall to Salomon Olembe and Rachid Bouaouzan. Both men, however, failed to hit the target.
At the final whistle, Wigan were left to reflect on yet another poor showing in front of goal (indeed, the Latics have failed to find the back of the net at home all season), while United jumped four places up the league table and registered a second successive away victory.
United: Amos (Woods 56), Gray, Eckersley R, Chester, Simpson; Eagles, Lee, Hewson (Cleverley 52), Barnes; Fangzhuo (Welbeck 68), Brandy
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