Wigan claimed three valuable points as first-half goals from Ben Watson and Charles N'Zogbia gave them a 2-1 Premier League victory at Sunderland.

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Midfielder Grant Leadbitter was on target for the Black Cats.

Watson put Wigan in the lead with his first goal for the club after 10 minutes.

The former Crystal Palace midfielder sent a crisp half-volley from the edge of the box which bounced inside Marton Fulop's right hand post.

Sunderland rallied, and Wigan had keeper Chris Kirkland to thank when he made a superb double stop, first denying Steed Malbranque's long range effort, and then springing up to palm away Andy Reid's follow-up.

The Black Cats did eventually find a way through when Leadbitter brought down Fulop's clearance and bundled it past Titus Bramble before shooting straight down the throat of Kirkland who failed to get down quick enough.

However within five minutes the Lactics restored their lead when they hit Sunderland on the counter-attack and N'Zogbia raced clear on the half-way line, easily fended off a challenge from Tal Ben-Haim and slotted neatly inside the near post.

Paul Scharner had a great chance to give his side some breathing space when he sprung Sunderland's offside trap just after the re-start, but the his shot was at the right height for Fulop to make a good stop.

Sunderland twice had the ball in the net after that only to see it chalked off by the assistant referee.

First Malbranque had an effort ruled out for offside, and then Leadbitter was denied a second by the assistant's flag.

Home boss Ricky Sbragia threw on David Healy for Ben-Haim with 15 minutes remaining, but Steve Bruce's men looked reasonably assured and saw out some late pressure to claim a deserved victory.