NICOLAS ANELKA put a first-half penalty miss behind him as he put the finishing touches to a stunning Wanderers victory by netting his team's fourth goal against neighbours Wigan Athletic - a result that sent Gary Megson's men up to 14th in the table.

The Frenchman, who put a first-half penalty wide of the mark, netted at the death to take his tally for the season to nine goals and complete a memorable week for the Club following their success in Belgrade on Thursday.

Megson made nine changes to the side that beat Red Star Belgrade in Serbia last week to freshen up his side in this important Barclays Premier League encounter.

Wanderers got off to a fantastic start when Paul Scharner put the ball past team-mate Chris Kirkland after three minutes. El-Hadji Diouf's initial corner kick had been easily cleared by the Latics defence but only into the path of Danny Guthrie. The on-loan midfielder immediately found the Senegalese attacker whose cross, originally intended for Nolan, bamboozled Scharner who emphatically nodded the ball into the back of his own net. The Austrian was visibly furious with himself!

The Latics were soon back on terms, however, when Dutchman Denny Landzaat capitalised on Abdoulaye Meite's weak clearance from a right-sided cross to beat Jussi Jaaskelainen from distance.

The goal spurred the visitors on and Jason Koumas, who was always a threat from set-pieces, shot wide with his left foot after the defence failed to clear Emile Heskey's knock down.

The hosts were handed a fantastic opportunity to restore their advantage when Danny Guthrie's drive hit a flailing arm. Referee Martin Atkinson immediately pointed to the spot. Diouf and Anelka went for the ball and captain Kevin Nolan gave it to Anelka. The Frenchman had the chance to put his miss at Anfield the previous week behind him, but drove the ball over the cross bar. It was a let off for Wigan.

Wigan then tried take advantage of their reprieve and but for a timely intervention from Nicky Hunt could have gone behind when Heskey lined up to poke home.

But the momentum swung back into Wanderers' favour thanks to their captain. Anelka had a shot blocked by Kevin Kilbane and the ball fell to Nolan, who cleverly flicked the ball with a heel to deceive Kirkland.

Koumas went close just before the interval when he thundered a drive that narrowly went wide.

Davies cleverly sent Anelka on a run just after the break, but the striker, still reeling from his spot kick nightmare, misjudged his shot and sent the ball wide.

The Latics then enjoyed their best spell of the game and piled on the pressure, but found Jaaskelainen at the top of his game.

The Wanderers keeper made two vitally important saves in the matter of two minutes to keep out Antonio Valencia and then a bullet header from Marcus Bent.

As Wigan were trying to get back in the game they left holes at the back - and Wanderers soon were wise to this.

Davies extended Wanderers lead on 70 minutes when he latched on to Diouf's free kick.

And Wanderers' best goal of the afternoon came in the final minute. Although it was a simple finish from Anelka, the moved smacked of class. Campo's long cross field pass found Davies in space and the striker then crossed towards Nolan, who flicked the ball into the path of Anelka who stabbed home to complete the rout.