Wigan Athletic 0 West Bromwich Albion 1

It is hard to imagine ever witnessing a better save than Tomasz Kuszczak's 94thminute effort to deny Jason Roberts.

Looking at the bigger picture and in the context of the season, it has enormous ramifications for Albion.

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Of primary importance, it enabled them to procure a priceless three points at Wigan that seemed highly unlikely when Darren Moore was dismissed after 43 minutes with the scoreline goalless.

Allied to Martin Albrechtsen's first goal in English football, it lifted Albion five points clear of the relegation zone and ensured that Bryan Robson's team can breathe far easier when they look at the Premiership league table.

It also vindicated Robson's decision to replace Nathan Ellington with Albrechtsen within seconds of Moore's dismissal, which was criticised, unfairly, by a section of supporters.

However, ignoring all the intriguing sub-plots, Kuszczak's save will be revered for decades to come for its sheer excellence. It was a real 'I was there' moment for supporters and prevented another hard luck story befalling Albion.

A Gary Teale cross was met at the far post by a Wigan head and landed at he feet of Roberts barely three yards from goal.

Roberts, who had been taunted mercilessly all afternoon by Albion supporters, raised his arm to celebrate what appeared to be a simple tap-in, thus denying the Baggies their first away win of the campaign.

However, Kuszczak managed to spring virtually the full width of the goal in an incredible feat of athleticism to deny Roberts with a twohanded block that left all 17,421 inside the JJB Stadium utterly incredulous at what they had witnessed.

There was a surreal moment of silence, before an eruption of jubilation and disappointment from the visiting and home fans respectively.

However, this wasn't just the Kuszczak show, as a match that began innocuously saw Albion produce an immense defensive performance to thwart Wigan's best-laid plans.

Moore's dismissal, which was justified for a needless foul on Roberts that earned him his second caution, galvanised Albion rather than deflated, as they slowly sucked the life out of a nervous home team.

In spite of their recent run, Albion started positively and Steve Watson warmed Mike Pollitt's hands on a bitterly cold afternoon in Lancashire with an acrobatic volley.

Darren Carter's corner was flicked on to the far post where it reached Watson who was lurking menacingly eight yards from goal.

He couldn't have struck the ball any sweeter, but Pollitt was equal to the task and denied Watson his second goal inside a fortnight.

Curtis Davies had to be vigilant to intercept Pascal Chimbonda's low cross and Roberts hoisted the rebound high into the massed ranks behind Kuszczak's goal.

Wigan huffed and puffed, but never looked in any serious danger of blowing Albion's house down, the defence being well marshalled by the imperious Davies.

Wallwork was booked for a late challenge, as was Moore for squashing Lee McCulloch, but Kuszczak was relatively untroubled save for a Paul Scharner drive that he diverted to safety.

Kevin Campbell was denied by an instinctive Pollitt save from close range and then his first touch betrayed him when set free by Paul Robinson, as Albion began to assert and iron grip on proceedings.

All that changed with Moore's dismissal. He fouled Roberts unnecessarily near the halfway line and left Mike Atkinson with no option but to brandish a red card.

Robson decided to replace Ellington and it appeared to be the correct decision, as Camp-bell's ability to hold the ball up is greater than that of Ellington's, who is more unorthodox.

Nevertheless, it was a bold decision by Robson, as it left him open to criticism, but it was totally vindicated by an obdurate second half performance.

After Campbell was denied once again by Pollitt, Albrechtsen became the unlikely hero ten minutes into plan B.

Wallwork was the instigator as he wrestled possession from Scharner and fed the overlapping Albrechtsen who drove the ball past Pollitt with the aplomb of a seasoned striker.

That was the cue for Wigan to throw the kitchen sink and various other implements at Albion but they found Kuszczak impassable.

McCulloch hit the bar with a header from close range, but Kuszczak had the last word to ensure Robson's substitution was vindicated.