MATT RITCHIE’S second half header helped Newcastle United take another big step towards a Premier League return at St James’ Park this afternoon.

After Wigan’s Michael Jacobs had cancelled out Dwight Gayle’s first half opener four minutes after the break, Ritchie directed a fine header high into the net to restore the Magpies’ goal advantage.

That was how it stayed to keep Newcastle ahead in the promotion race and they are now ten points clear of the play-off zone after Huddersfield lost to Burton.

Gayle had struck his 22nd goal of the season to help Newcastle ahead in the first half but it required Ritchie’s winner to seal the points.

The Magpies, who had lost five times on home soil this season, were keen to start a crucial April on a winning note in front of their own fans and they did just that.

Gayle was on hand with nine minutes of the first half remaining to turn in Mohamed Diame’s brilliant cross against relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic.

It was hardly vintage stuff from Newcastle but what mattered was that they got the breakthroughs required during a game when they struggled to test Latics keeper Matt Gilks regularly enough.

Jonjo Shelvey had a few hopeful efforts from distance but that was about as good as it had got before Gayle pounced to deliver the vital opener for Rafael Benitez’s side.

Benitez – who recalled Gayle to lead the line in the absence of injured Daryl Murphy - spoke beforehand of a desire to win the final five home games and, ahead of Burton’s visit on Wednesday, they achieved the first of those.

It was not as straight forward as many might have expected against a side seemingly destined for a return to League One.

Wigan levelled four minutes after half-time when Michael Jacobs got in behind Jamaal Lascelles and lifted a tidy finish over goalkeeper Karl Darlow.

Wigan had a couple of efforts immediately after that to go in front with former Darlington defender Dan Burn and Jacobs going close.

Those misses allowed Newcastle to go down the other end and restore the goal advantage.

Paul Dummett’s cross was not dealt with properly and Ritchie’s half volley hit the post, rebounded back to the Scotland international who headed instinctively high into the net.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-3-2-1): Darlow; Anita, Lascelles, Hanley, Dummett; Shelvey, Colback; Ritchie, Diame (Atsu 62), Gouffran (Hayden 70); Gayle (Perez 80). Subs (not used): Elliot (gk), Gamez, Mbemba, Mitrovic.

WIGAN ATHLETIC (4-2-3-1): Gilks; Power, Buxton, Burn, Warnock; Macdonald (Morgan 60), Hanson; Connolly, Morsy (Gilbey 46), Jacobs; Bogle (Colclough 46). Subs (not used): Perkins, Obertan, Haugaard (gk), Byrne.