Premier League: Wigan 2 QPR 0

Wigan made it five points from their first three games of the season with a 2-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers at DW Stadium on Saturday.

Although the gallant visitors hit the woodwork three times throughout the match, in the end it was a classy brace from Argentine striker Franco Di Santo that handed Roberto Martinez’s side all three points.

Martinez made two changes to the side that drew 0-0 against Swansea last Saturday, with Adrian Lopez replacing the injured Antolin Alcaraz at the heart of the defence and Hugo Rodallega coming in for James McCarthy.

For QPR, Bruno Perone was handed his Premier League debut in place of the injured Bradley Orr but new signing Joey Barton watched from the stands.

The game was a close affair, although Wigan looked the sharper in front of goal with Victor Moses going close early on, beating two defenders before firing wide.

Warnock’s men also had chances, almost inevitably through Adel Taarabt, who rattled the post twice in the opening 45 minutes. The first came from a superb curling shot from 20 yards, and later Wigan gloveman Ali Al-Habsi tipped his deflected free-kick onto the post.

But four minutes before half-time Wigan took the lead and control of the match when Di Santo picked up a pass from Moses and smashed a volley past Kenny to open the scoring in some style.

Rangers struggled to find an answer in the second half and the hosts extended their lead just after the hour mark. Again it was Di Santo, pinching the ball off team-mate Rodallega just inside the box before sending a deflected shot high into the top corner.

QPR could have had one back, only to be denied by the woodwork for the third time in the match when Perone headed onto the bar from a corner.

The defeat will be a blow to the visitors, following last weekend’s victory over Everton, although they will look forward to their next fixture which sees them take on Joey Barton’s former side Newcastle at Loftus Road.

Wigan, meanwhile, having now faced all three promoted sides in their first three fixtures, have the rather more daunting task of a trip to Manchester City in their next Premier League outing.