Sibierski the hero for Wigan

Paul Jewell's Derby hosted his old club Wigan today at Pride Park and it wasn't a case of many happy returns. Antoine Sibierski scored the winning goal to break Derby hearts as they continue to look for only their second win of the season.

Sibierski's strike was yet another hammer blow for a Derby side reduced to 10 men just before the hour when centre-back Claude Davis was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

The Latics chances in the first half to take the lead, notably inside the opening 60 seconds. A low ball in from the left from Emile Heskey found Antonio Valencia unmarked inside the area, but his shot was weak.

The clearance, though, found its way to Michael Brown and from 25 yards he blazed a half volley inches over the crossbar.

Valencia also set up Marcus Bent inside the area for a fierce sidefoot shot that shaved the crossbar.

Another Brown half-volley later forced a fine save from Lewis Price, and although Heskey teed up Bent for an easy tap-in from the rebound, the linesman's flag curtailed celebrations.

Then as the first half drew to a close, Bent saw a drive cleared off the line by Tyrone Mears, and from the rebound Valencia was again off target to the frustration of his team-mates.

The game turned two minutes later when Derby were reduced to 10 men for Davis' second penalised challenge on Bent, but it needed late-arrival Sibierski's finish to hand Wigan the points.