ROB HULSE scored his fifth goal of the season to give Sheffield United their third win in four Premiership matches and maintain the Blades' climb away from the relegation zone.

Hulse's strike in first-half injury-time was all that separated the two sides, and with 10 points from their last 12, boss Neil Warnock's side are up to a season-high 14th.

Wigan have now lost their last three matches at the JJB Stadium, stretching their barren run to six hours without a goal on home soil.

It was Wigan however who started the game brighter.

After just three minutes the ball was worked down the right to Henri Camara, but he scuffed his shot on the turn.

Throughout the first half, Paul Jewell's side were doing the majority of the pressing, but were finding chances hard to come by against a solid-looking United defence.

Indeed, United only had their first shot in the 37th minute, with Danny Webber dragging his right-foot effort wide from 22 yards.

Then in the third minute of first-half injury time, United broke the deadlock. A rightwing cross from Keith Gillespie was overhit, but Stephen Quinn collected and turned the ball into the six-yard box where striker Hulse was on hand to turn it in.

Wigan should have drawn level 13 minutes after the restart as Kevin Kilbane robbed right-back Rob Kozluk and charged into the area, but his drive was blocked by Kenny.

Then on the hour came a remarkable incident, with referee Peter Walton pointing to the spot as he believed De Zeeuw had handled in the area. De Zeeuw was furious, claiming the cross he was trying to cut out struck his thigh, and asked Walton to consult his assistant Andy Halliday.

The official did so, and overruled his own decision.

United came close to a second in the 64th minute when Gillespie unleashed a fierce drive which Kirkland parried up into the air. With the ball dropping at the far post, Webber appeared odds-on to score but was brilliantly denied by Emmerson Boyce.

Though the game was opening up, there were no more goals but further controversy. Chris Morgan, who had been elbowed by Juan Pablo Angel against Aston Villa on Monday, was thumped in the face by Lee McCulloch. The centre-back emerged with a cut underneath his left eye, but Walton had failed to spot it.