Newcastle United showed no mercy as they returned to the top of the Championship with a ruthless 2-0 win at Wigan Athletic.
Mohamed Diame celebrated his return to the club that gave him his break in English football in 2009 by casually stroking home the 26th-minute opener.
And Rafael Benitez’s side ended any hopes of a Wigan comeback when substitute Christian Atsu thundered home on the counter from the edge of the box on 78 minutes after Jonjo Shelvey broke down the left and crossed and Diame missed his kick.
It was a swift move that went from back to front at dizzying speed after keeper Karl Darlow found Jonjo Shelvey and he picked out the surging Diame.
The former Wigan man powered forward before unleashing a rising shot from 22 yards that Jaaskelainen tipped behind diving to his left.
Newcastle’s Yoan Gouffran had the next attempt but his effort was more in keeping with Wigan’s main sport rugby league as he ballooned a curling shot high into the 5,000 Toon fans.
The goalshy Latics – without a home goal in 362 minutes – responded with a break from Yanic Wildschut in the 18thminute but his cross was just too strong for Michael Jacobs at the far post.
Wigan were forced into an early change when right back Luke Garbutt limped off after just 20 minutes to be replaced by Andy Kellett.
And the Toon looked to take advantage when winger Matt Ritchie broke to slam a left-foot drive just wide on 23 minutes.
Then came Diame’s big moment and Newcastle didn’t look like they needed another.
Hayden however, showed he could be a destroyer as well as a creator after he was booked on 32 after flattening Kellett in the centre circle.
Newcastle remained in control and Dwight Gayle, whose 16 goals this season matched the entire Wigan team, forced Jasskelainen into a falling save from a free kick.
Jonjo Shelvey then had Jaaskelainen scrambling to get a hand to an angled drive in first-half stoppage time.
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