West Brom 2 Wigan 0 - Report and pictures
This may not have been the free-flowing demolition job Albion have done on other teams this season, but it still showcased the depth of their attacking talent.
Four days after Dwight Gayle bagged a hat-trick, strike partner Jay Rodriguez stepped up to the plate with two of his own.
It was a timely brace from Rodriguez, because Gayle was forced off in the ninth minute immediately after setting up his first, a well-placed header.
But if Gayle doesn't get you, Rodriguez will. Twenty minutes from time, he fired an unstoppable rocket past Christian Walton to give the Baggies much-needed breathing space.
It was a dull game for large parts, as an out-of-form Wigan side attempted to make it the same physical battle it was in October, when Paul Cook's men emerged as winners.
But Rodriguez made sure the Baggies got revenge while extending their unbeaten run to eight games.
Thanks to Norwich dropping points, Albion moved to within three points of second, and just as importantly, registered back-to-back clean sheets for the first time this season.
Darren Moore named an unchanged line-up for the fourth successive game, sticking with the side that thrashed Rotherham away.
Wigan had an early shout for a penalty just two minutes in when Kieran Gibbs slid in on Josh Windass from behind, but the Latics' appeals were only half-hearted and referee Rob Jones said no.
The visitors were trying to cause problems with long aerial balls up to Joe Garner, while Albion threatened on the break with the pace of Harvey Barnes and Dwight Gayle.
And it took just eight minutes for the Baggies to take the lead through a Rodriguez header.
Firstly, the striker fetched the ball off Tosin Adarabioyo, before slipping Gayle in behind.
Gayle twisted and turned before clipping a cross into the middle which Rodriguez did well to generate enough power on to head his 11th goal of the season into the far corner.
The celebrations were short-lived though, because Gayle hobbled off straight after holding his hamstring and was replaced by Hal Robson-Kanu.
Gareth Barry was pulling the strings from central midfield, and so Wigan tried to rough him up.
Callum Connolly was shown a yellow card for a robust aerial challenge with more than a hint of elbow, but it didn't do much to deter the veteran midfielder.
A few minutes later, having sprayed the ball out to Rodriguez, Barry then slipped Robson-Kanu in behind with a pinpoint reverse ball, but the substitute was thwarted by Christian Walton.
Albion were starting to strengthen their grip on the game, and Wigan were growing frustrated.
The reverse fixture in October was a feisty affair with nine yellow cards, and just before the half-hour Joe Garner was the second visitor to be booked after lunging in on Ahmed Hegazi.
Walton was called into action again when a deflected Barnes shot nearly looped in under the bar, but in truth, it was rather a dull first half with limited quality.
Paul Cook's antics on the touchline were more animated than some of the football on the pitch, and no wonder he was fuming, because his side were giving Barry acres of space in midfield.
Five minutes after the break it should have been two when Rodriguez clipped a delightful cross-field ball out to Phillips on the right and the winger played the ball back across goal for Robson-Kanu.
The ball was on a plate for him, but he couldn't get the decsive touch.
Cook sent on former Baggie Callum McManaman after that in order to inject some energy to proceedings.
And finally the game did start to liven up, although that was down to some thunderous tackles rather than lightning-quick football.
Dan Burn gave Albion a reminder they needed a second, curling over the bar from a promising position in the 65th minute, and they nearly got it when Barnes forced Walton into a full-stretch save.
Twenty minutes from time they got their breathing space, thanks to a 25-yard rocket from Rodriguez.
The whole of The Hawthorns seemed to cry 'hit it!' when the ball bounced up kindly to him, and he duly did, bursting the net with an unstoppable strike.
The Baggies were enjoying themselves now, and Rodriguez nearly had a hat-trick soon after when two Wigan players flung themselves in front of his shots.
Four minutes from time, Reece James hit the outside of the post with a free-kick as the Latics searched for an improbable comeback.
But Albion held firm to record their first Boxing Day win for nine years, and ensure it was a very merry Christmas for all Baggies fans.
KEY MOMENTS
08 GOAL ALBION - Rodriguez powers a header into the corner from a clipped Gayle cross.
09 Gayle is forced off with an injury, and is replaced by Robson-Kanu.
70 GOAL ALBION - Rodriguez fires a rocket past Walton when the ball bounces up kindly for him.
86 James hits the outside of the post with a free-kick.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Jay Rodriguez - A brace from the matchwinner who also passed the ball well.
POSITION IN THE TABLE
3rd, with 45 points from 24 games.
TEAMS
Albion (4-3-3): Johnstone, Adarabioyo, Dawson, Hegazi, Gibbs (Brunt 81), Phillips, Barry, Livermore (c) (Morrison 70), Gayle (Robson-Kanu 9), Rodriguez, Barnes.
Unused subs: Myhill, Mears, Harper, Sako.
Wigan (4-2-3-1): Walton, James, Kipre, Dunkley, Burn, Connolly, Morsy (c), Massey (Evans 76), Windass (McManaman 54), Naismith, Garner (Grigg 77).
Unused subs: Jones, Byrne, Gibson, Roberts.
Referee: Rob Jones
Attendance: 25,555 (1,105 away)
