Moyes stony-faced as Wigan cry foul over winner

Wigan Athletic 0 Everton 1

They have managed it only once in 22 seasons, but could Everton finish above Liverpool this year? Derby week on Merseyside begins with Rafael Benitez's side nine points ahead, but David Moyes' Everton have momentum ahead of their visit to Anfield next Saturday lunchtime.

Victory in Moyes' 600th game as a manager will reduce that gap to six and Everton have a game in hand. The blue half of Merseyside last finished above the red in 2005, when Everton finished three points and one place higher. A repeat of that feat may be a tall order but Everton, who are on the up and up, should not be underestimated.

Having dropped to 16th in the table with a 2-0 home defeat by Liverpool at the end of November, Everton will make the trip across Stanley Park on the first weekend in February on a nine-match unbeaten run which includes three successive wins, all with clean sheets. They have played much better than they did here, too – against Wigan they produced a gritty and workmanlike performance, Tim Cahill's sixth goal of the season, six minutes from time, sealing the win.

"It was a trademark goal by Tim and it continues the good run we're on," said Moyes, who refused to talk up his side's chances of sneaking into Europe next season. "We can't aim too high too soon. We've got a tough month coming up."

So have Wigan, but their predicament is much more serious. Roberto Martinez's side, who are flirting dangerously with relegation, have won once in eight League games and have lost three of the last four.

Martinez claimed that Maynor Figueroa, who was supposed to be marking Cahill, had had his foot stamped on, allowing the Australian to rise unchallenged and head home a corner by the former Wigan left-back Leighton Baines.

Moyes countered: "What about Gary Caldwell's pull [on Louis Saha] in the first minute? Stonewall. What about Marouane Fellaini's goal that was disallowed? Stonewall."

Wigan might have got something from the game had their forwards been more accurate. Hugo Rodallega and Jason Scotland, who has not scored a League goal since a £2million move from Swansea last summer, both missed before Cahill struck.

"It's a tough blow to take," Martinez said. "We can't keep giving cheap goals away. Our aim is to stay in the Premier League and it's going to be a real test of character. We should have got a point at Blackburn on Wednesday and we should have got a point today."

Attendance: 16,869

Referee: Lee Probert

Man of the match: Cahill

Match rating: 7/10