Wigan Athletic 1 Newcastle United 0

JUST when Newcastle United supporters thought their team could not plunge any lower on the entertainment barometer, they produced arguably their most turgid, and unimaginative, performance of the season at Wigan yesterday.

And as if the club's fans, of which there were more than 5,000 at the JJB Stadium yesterday, did not already know, it's going to be another long hard season on Tyneside.

The Magpies were outfought by yet another team destined to be fighting for their Premier League status at the end of the season and got exactly what they deserved - nothing!

It is quite remarkable how Newcastle seem to reserve their most wretched displays for the JJB Stadium.

It is the fourth consecutive time the North-East club have been beaten 1-0 there - three times in the league and once in the Carling Cup.

Ryan Taylor's direct free-kick from 20 yards, in the 64th minute, was a rare moment of light in a truly unremarkable spectacle.

The midfielder found Shay Given's top right hand corner after Alan Smith, leading the side as skipper for the third time, had unnecessarily fouled Michael Brown.

United on the other hand had one shot on target - in the 52nd minute - and that was a lame effort.

Former United defender Titus Bramble was alert to the danger and headed Mark Viduka's looping overhead kick off the line.

Sam Allardyce made five changes to the side which played out a disappointing home draw with relegation-bound Derby on Sunday.

Damien Duff made a return to the first team starting line-up following an absence of eight months.

Joey Barton dropped out with an ankle injury and his central midfield partner Nicky Butt had to be content with a place on the bench. In came Geremi and Emre for the pair, with Steven Taylor and Abdoulaye Faye replacing Claudio Cacapa, named among the substitutes, and David Rozehnal who did not travel with the squad.

Smith, who had played the previous five games as a striker, was employed as a defensive midfielder in 4-3-3 formation, with Duff and James Milner playing either side of Viduka.

The pairing of Taylor and Faye was the fifth time Allardyce had shuffled his central defensive combination this term, and they coped admirably in the competitive affair.

But overall United struggled to get out of their own half and resorted to the proverbial big boot up the field.

The visitors possessed all the pace and mobility of a tractor in a muddy field with the only player with genuine pace - Obafemi Martins - sitting on the bench.

But it is hard to point the finger of blame at any particular player, as Newcastle were mediocre all over the pitch. There was no cohesion throughout the side and the lack of creativity in midfield is alarming.

Of Allardyce's signings in the summer supporters felt Geremi's capture was a real coup for the club. The Cameroon international arrived with proven pedigrees in both Champions League and Premier League with Real Madrid and Chelsea but he has been arguably the most disappointing arrival at St James' Park.

It is hard to see what he actually brings to the side.

Emre was brought back for his first start since the 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool but he was unable to impose himself on the proceedings, while Smith, who always gives his all, once again did not do himself justice in a midfield spoiling role.

It would be harsh to criticise Duff, starting his first Premier League fixture for the Magpies since limping off at Portsmouth in April. The Republic of Ireland international was busy but failed to beat his man and was unable to create anything of note for his colleagues.

The only player worthy of a mention was Charles N'Zogbia, wasted as a full-back, who tried his best to drive the side on and always looked dangerous when leading a counter attack.

Wigan had the one and only chance of the first half, with Paul Scharner unleashing a long-range effort that Given safely gathered after it had taken a deflection off Geremi.

There was a greater degree of urgency at the start of the second half, but that was no surprise given the ineptitude of the first period.

Bramble's clearance from Viduka's effort proved to be the spark that ignited Wigan because after a couple of bookings for Milner and Emre, and a Taylor free-kick fired into the wall, the winner arrived soon afterwards.

Newcastle were unbeaten in four games prior to this clash and it would be fair to say the club have had the rub of the green, in scoring goals in the dying moments of the last three against struggling sides, to take vital points.

Supporters will accept poor performances if they are winning matches, but poor performances with poor results are a different matter.