Wigan 3-0 Brighton

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Andy Liddell netted his first hat-trick for Wigan as they triumphantly ended a run of six successive draws with a win against high-flying Brighton to boost their play-off hopes.

The striker could easily have scored six but Brighton keeper Simon Royce saved an early goal-bound header and denied him with two point-blank saves in the final 10 minutes.

Liddell grabbed his first after eight minutes and added an 18th-minute penalty after Danny Cullip had brought down Lee McCulloch.

He completed his hat-trick with 10 minutes remaining after being put through by McCulloch.

New Wigan signing from Ayr Gary Teale impressed in the second half and two of his crosses should have brought further goals.

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Wigan: Filan, De Vos, De Zeeuw, Jackson, McMillan, Teale, Brannan, Dinning, Kennedy, McCulloch, Liddell. Subs: Kilford, Haworth, Roberts, Dalglish, Green.

Brighton: Royce, Watson, Morgan, Cullip, Mayo, Hart, Carpenter, Oatway, Jones, Zamora, Steele. Subs: Brooker, Packham, Virgo, Pethick, Webb.

Referee: P Walton (Northants).