Wigan Athletic 0 // Newcastle United 1
WIGAN // Newcastle United are still the favourites to claim the prize for the season's silliest sacking, but there are occasions when some method can be detected in their madness.
This was one. Alan Pardew was the unpopular choice to replace the dismissed Chris Hughton, but his second victory in charge, secured by Shola Ameobi's tap-in, took United into the top half of the table.
As their two defeats in his brief reign have come against Manchester City and Tottenham, Pardew could claim extenuating circumstances in both losses.
As it was, Newcastle averted a third straight setback in impressive fashion. Instead Wigan, so impressive in drawing with Arsenal, were subdued. The power of Cheik Tiote's midfield play and the precision of Joey Barton's set-pieces were factors but so, too, was Pardew's input.
He made five changes and the recalled Steve Harper made an important early save to thwart Tom Cleverley. The most significant alterations, however, were in attack. Deprived of the totemic Andy Carroll, who has a thigh injury, Pardew paired Ameobi with Peter Lovenkrands.
If both were wasteful, their presence on the pitch nevertheless resulted in the decisive goal.
It was a strike that was eminently avoidable. Wigan failed to deal with Harper's clearance. Steve Gohouri was dispossessed by Barton on the edge of his own box and, though the midfielder's shot was comparatively tame, Ali Al Habsi nonetheless allowed it to escape his grasp.
Peter Lovenkrands, in close attention, really should have buried the opportunity. But, after he prodded his effort against the post, Ameobi arrived on the scene to ensure the miss wasn't costly. "It comes from our own mistake," said Roberto Martinez, the Wigan manager. "That's disappointing."
It was a rare moment of assurance from the specialist strikers. After 90 seconds, Ameobi rose, Carroll-like, at the far post, only to head Danny Simpson's inviting cross wide; Lovenkrands spurned the excellent Barton fashioned when he was unable to get the ball onto his favoured left foot; and the substitute Leon Best marred a superb solo run with a woeful attempt at a finish.
"We lost Andy Carroll of course but everyone pulled their socks up today and we responded in the right manner," Pardew said.
"I thought we were in control for more or less the whole game and perhaps we should have taken [more chances] but as a manager I will take a 1-0."
Indeed, their defenders came rather closer to extending the lead. With an inventive corner, Barton chipped the ball to the edge of the box where Fabricio Coloccini, having advanced with sufficient stealth that he was unmarked, leapt to loop a header that clipped the bar.
It was further proof of Barton's set-piece expertise when the other central defender, Steven Taylor, struck the bar, with a header from his free kick.
That was the good part of Barton's game. Less pleasing was a late lunge at James McArthur that produced a yellow card and, Wigan felt, should have resulted in his expulsion.
"I think it was really high and really late," said Roberto Martinez. "It was a bad tackle.
"The referee was at the wrong angle, it was impossible for him to see how high it was. I have seen players sent off for the same action."
The Wigan manager did not attempt to use it as an excuse for the result, however. Apart from when Gary Caldwell hit the bar, his side rarely threatened. "We looked leggy, we looked tired and we got punished for our lapses in concentration," the Spaniard admitted.
Wednesday's draw with Arsenal took rather too much out of his team, including their finest player, Charles N'Zogbia, who was suspended for head-butting Arsenal's Jack Wilshere.
His concern is keeping Cleverley, who could be recalled from his loan spell by the watching Sir Alex Ferguson.
For Pardew, who has an interest in Robbie Keane and David Bentley, the aims are rather higher. Newcastle, who can veer between optimism and depression, are looking up again.