Barclays Premier League
Jim Fearn reports from the JJB Stadium

A goal on the hour by Paul Scharmer and a second from man-of-the-match Antonio Valencia seven minutes from time was enough to secure all three points for Wigan on Paul Jewell's return to the JJB Stadium.

The scrappy first effort - a tap-in after a double-save from Roy Carroll had kept out Emile Heskey - was reflective of the overall performance on a difficult surface by both teams in front of just over 20,000 fans, Wigan's third highest home attendance of the season.

Despite the constant threat of Valencia down the Wigan right, there were few clear-cut chances for either side, but his 83rd minute strike killed off the game for the visitors.

Pearson might have done better when given a clear shot on goal after good work by Hossam Ghaly early on, and on another day second half substitute Tito's Villa's extravagant overhead kick might have beaten home keeper Chris Kirkland. Barnes also went close in the dying minutes, but it was to no avail.

The Rams lost yet another full-back to injury, Dean Leacock giving way to a hip problem at half-time, while Alan Stubbs (pictured right) was easily the pick of the Derby team with another monumental display at the heart of the back-four.

For Wigan - just one point clear of the relegation places before this match - it was a vital victory, while hopes of a poetic first win as Derby manager for Jewell at his former club were dashed. The only consolation for the former Latics boss was the singing of "There's only one Paul Jewell" by the home fans just before the final whistle.

Jewell made two changes from the side that started against Tottenham two weeks ago. Loan star Hossam Ghaly, unable to play against his own club, returned to partner skipper Savage in the centre of midfield, while Jay McEveley made his first start since injuring media knee ligaments in the defeat at Bolton on January 2.

Tito Villa dropped down to the bench and Marc Edworthy dropped out of the squad altogether, as did striker Robert Earnshaw.

Darren Moore, who made an early exit in the Tottenham game with a hamstring injury, was back to partner Alan Stubbs in central defence to combat the aerial threat of Marlon King and Emile Heskey, the England man fit to lead the attack despite recent back trouble.

For Wigan, Sweden defender Erik Edman, out with a calf injury since his January move from Rennes, made his first start, but midfielder Ryan Taylor was ruled out with a rib injury. The Latics' two top scorers so far this season, Marcus Bent (seven goals) and Antoine Sibierski (four, including the winner at Pride Park last month) were left on the bench by Steve Bruce.

In his programme notes, Bruce paid tribute to Jewell for his impact as manager at the JJB, commenting: "By a creating a team that rose from Division Two into the Premier League, and stayed there, he has rightly written himself into the history books at this club, and those achievements should rightly never be forgotten.

"But all that is in the past. Today Paul is the manager of Derby County and will be coming here determined not to go home empty handed."

The Rams, all in black, kicked off towards the home end and Stubbs needed time out on two minutes after taking a whack in the face from King's trailing arm.

Palacios's back heel into the Derby box on five spelled danger, but the Honduran's quick-thinking was fortunately too quick for his strikers and Carroll cleared.

At the other end Ghaly twisted and turned on the edge of the Wigan box before teeing up a great chance for Pearson to score his first goal since Wembley, but the Scot's shot was easily gathered by Kirkland.

King skipped away from Moore on nine and set up Valencia on the Wigan right, but after getting past McEveley, the right-winger had his cross shot well blocked by Stubbs.

Two minutes later the big Scouser was in the wars again when he took a kick on the right shin from Scharner while clearing another cross. Stubbs continued after treatment.

Valencia was immediately a threat again down the right, beating McEveley before setting up Melchiot for a cross that Kilbane headed over from close range.

From the resulting goal-kick, Miller latched onto a flick on and his dipping 30-yarder only just flew over Kirkland's crossbar.

McEveley was beaten by the pitch on 16 minutes, leaving Moore with little option but to pull down Heskey on the edge of the Derby box, but Wigan couldn't profit from a good position, Kilbane firing well wide of Carroll's right post.

A dummy by Moore on the edge of his own box on 22 bemused his own goalkeeper and eventually led to Kilbane's left wing corner. After a bit of pinball in the box, Melchiot backheeled the ball goalwards but Barnes, on the left post, hacked it off the line and the Rams survived.

Moore was spoken to by referee Wiley moments later after contesting a foul given against Savage, but Kilbane's free-kick evaded everyone.

Stubbs was equally wasteful with a Derby free kick moments later as the game descended into a scrappy affair approaching the half-hour mark, though a typical surging Pearson run out of midfield after Ghaly had won the ball provided something for the Derby faithful to cheer. The end product, as can be the case with Pearo, didn't quite live up to the thrilling approach work, as an attempted cross-shot skidded out of the reach of Miller.

The travelling Rams fans were in good voice again however behind Carroll's goal and took great delight in regularly asking Jewell for a wave on his return to the JJB - the Derby boss obliging.

On 32 Wigan broke at pace down the Derby left again, Melchiot feeding Valencia whose dangerous cross was well guided behind to safety by Leacock, again looking assured at right-back.

On the other flank, it was a testing return for McEveley against the lively Valencia.

Leacock however seemed to take a blow to his hip as he and Savage challenged for the same ball and looked in some discomfort as half-time approached.

Struggling to get into position on 43, Leacock's incapacity saw Wigan take advantage down the Derby left, but though Brown's cross reached Heskey in front of goal only 12 yards out, the striker couldn't get a proper contact and Carroll saved.

Though Leacock was obviously trying to get into the half-time break for treatment, he was increasingly looking like a passenger.

Leacock didn't come out for the second half, being replaced by Todd, and the first chance of the half fell to Valencia, who sliced his shot well wide.

Kilbane and Moore both emerged hobbling from a crunching 50:50 on halfway, while on 51 Fagan's flick on to Pearson almost saw the midfielder get his head to the ball before goalkeeper Kirkland.

A substitution with attacking intent saw Barnes move wide left as Villa replaced Pearson on 57, but as Wigan went forward two minutes later Stubbs's positioning was once again immaculate as he blocked Valencia's cross.

But even he could do nothing as Kilbane swung in a corner from the right on the hour-mark which was flicked on towards Heskey at the far post. The big striker's first effort was well saved by Carroll and Heskey had another go, again kept out by the keeper, but the loose ball eventually ran to SCHARNER, who fired into an empty net at the right post. It was a scrappy goal reflective of the game.

Jewell immediately replaced Ghaly with Sterjovski, Fagan moving over to the left to accommodate the Aussie right-winger as Barnes slotted into central midfield alongside skipper Savage.

On 63 Valencia again broke free down the Derby left and as the Wigan strikers ran in both Moore and Stubbs got the ball behind for another corner.

On the edge of the Wigan box on 66 Moore flicked on for substitute Villa to hit in an acrobatic overhead kick which was on target but too close to keeper Kirkland.

Derby had Stubbs to thank again on 75 as he somehow got a foot in to deny Heskey as the striker, running clear on goal, hesitated.

With 10 minutes remaining Melchiot went close with a header from Kilbane's left-wing corner, but on 83 the home side doubled their lead.

Fed by Kilbane, Palacios hit a delightful chip from the left across the Derby area that was picked up by VALENCIA, who cut inside McEveley before firing into the roof of Carroll's net.

Fagan picked up the game's first booking soon afterwards for kicking the ball away, but a minute later Barnes was desperately close as he received Villa's pass and fired in a vicious shot that Edman cleared off the Wigan line. From the resulting corner Kirkland punched clear only as far as Sterjovski whose 25-yarder flew just wide.

WIGAN: 1 Chris Kirkland, 3. Erik Edman (10 Jason Koumas 90), 5 Wilson Palacios, 8 Kevin Kilbane, 9 Emile Heskey (23 Marcus Bent 88), 11 Michael Brown, 14 Marlon King (6 Antoine Sibierski 84), 16 Antonio Valencia, 17 Emmerson Boyce, 18 Paul Scharner, 25 Mario Melchiot (c).

SUBSTITUTES: 12 Mike Pollitt (GK), 19 Titus Bramble.

DERBY: 31 Roy Carroll, 5 Dean Leacock (17 Andy Todd 45), 4 Jay McEveley, 8 Alan Stubbs, 23 Darren Moore, 11 Craig Fagan, 44 Robbie Savage (c), 40 Hossam Ghaly 21 Mile Sterjovski 60), 25 Stephen Pearson (9 Emanuel Villa 57), 28 Giles Barnes, 14 Kenny Miller.

SUBSTITUTES: 1 Lewis Price (GK), 15 Eddie Lewis.

OFFICIALS: Referee A Wiley, Assistants J Devine, P Keane, Fourth Official M Oliver.

BOOKED: Fagan (Derby) 87.

ATTENDANCE: 20,176