Newcastle Newcastle United
3-0
Wigan Wigan Athletic

Ba (13' pen., 21'), Bigirimana (71')

FT(HT: 2-0)

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Half-Time Report: Demba Ba brace puts Newcastle United in control against Wigan Athletic

By Joe Fish, Reporter | 03 December 2012

Half-Time Report: Ba brace puts Newcastle in control

Demba Ba scores twice as Newcastle make the most of a man advantage to take a 2-0 lead into the break against Wigan at St James' Park.

A first-half double from Demba Ba has put Newcastle United on track to end their four-game losing streak against 10-man Wigan Athletic tonight.

The Senegalese frontman scored twice in an eight-minute spell to put the Magpies in complete control at St James' Park.

His 13th-minute opener came from the penalty spot after Maynor Figueroa fouled Papiss Cisse and was shown a subsequent red card.

Following the dismissal, Roberto Martinez was forced to sacrifice attacker Jordi Gomez, who netted a hat-trick in Wigan's recent triumph over Reading.

Despite stabilising his defence, Martinez watched his side concede again when Ba pounced on the rebound of David Santon's shot, which had been parried by Ali Al Habsi.

The visitors could even have been down to nine men by the break but referee Mike Jones opted not to show returning Latics defender Gary Caldwell a second yellow for his cynical hack on Ba.