Wigan 2 Wolves 0

Ten-man Wolves equalled their worst losing run in the Premier League at Wigan.

Match-winner Jordi Gomez rubbed salt into their wounds and dropped them into the relegation zone.

Captain Karl Henry's 11th minute sending off for a crude lunge on Gomez gave Wolves an uphill battle at the fellow strugglers.

Henry's late challenge left referee Lee Mason with little option but to hand the captain the second red card of his career.

It was Gomez who opened the scoring in the 65th minute, curling home a superb free kick into the top corner of the net after David Edwards held Charles N'Zogbia on the edge of the area.

Christophe Berra's own goal five minutes from time compounded Wolves' misery, as they crashed to their fourth successive defeat.

Berra's sliding block on N'Zogbia's through ball only managed to divert the ball past goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.

After Henry's dismissal, it was as much as Wolves could do to do a containing job until the introduction of Marcus Bent and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake eight minutes from time.

But Mick McCarthy's side didn't force a single save out of Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi all match, as Wolves failed to score for the first time this season.

The flashpoint involving Henry was the only real action of an otherwise tepid first half devoid of any real goalmouth action with neither goalkeeper making a save.

In fact, Wolves' only threat of the entire game came in the 19th minute when Steven Fletcher, who started at wide right where he finished against Villa – curled a 25-yard free kick inches wide after Emmerson Boyce had fouled Kevin Doyle.

Before that Maynor Figueora and afterwards Gomez, Hugo Rodallega and Charles N'Zogbia fired harmless shots high and wide, as Wigan demonstrated why they had only scored twice all season before this game.

The second-half was much better and Wigan almost took the lead within seconds of the restart.

Hahnemann pulled off a superb save to deny Franco Di Santo after a one-two with Rodallega left him with just the goalkeeper to beat, and as the ball squirmed towards goal, Kevin Foley made a goal-line clearance.

Wigan still struggled to keep possession and looked devoid of confidence.

But the second goal rejuvenated the home side and Hahnemann smothered well from Rodellega, before Gomez curled the follow-up a foot over.

The 2,000-plus Wolves fans were left angry and bitterly disappointed at the outcome, which was undoubtedly shaped by Henry's early sending off.

The midfielder is banned for the next three games – missing West Ham at home, Chelsea away and at Manchester United in the Carling Cup - so won't be available until October 30 for the visit of Manchester City.

In fact for the Chelsea game, Wolves are already without three midfielders with the ineligible Michael Mancienne and the injured Adlene Guedioura.