Wigan 3 Reading 1

Wigan will stand alongside Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool in the Premiership next season.

First-half goals from Lee McCulloch and Jason Roberts and a late Nathan Ellington header completed the Latics fairytale rise to England's elite just 27 years after they were accepted into the Football League.

In cementing second spot behind Sunderland, Paul Jewell's side became the most unfancied team to muscle their way into the top flight since Wimbledon's abrasive gatecrashing exercise nearly two decades ago.

Jewell deserves much of the credit, as do the players, particularly Roberts and Ellington, who between them have contributed an incredible 45 goals to the Wigan cause.

But the club's growing band of fans know who they really have to thank for an ascent totally unthinkable until his arrival 10 years ago, chairman, owner and financial backer Dave Whelan, who at the final whistle, stood in the stand, lord of all he surveyed, with a lump in his throat, dark glasses masking the tears welling up in his eyes.

The kind of emotional roller-coaster the end of seasons like this one can produce are surely not good for a man of Whelan's age.

Clearly, the proud Lancastrian, who by his own admission has ploughed '75million of his own personal fortune into a now-successful quest to transform Wigan from Third Division nonentities into a Premiership outfit and will need to invest another '25million to keep them there, has a constitution befitting his no-nonsense northern upbringing.

Whelan had barely taken his seat before he was informed Ipswich had gone in front at Brighton, a goal which at that stage sent Wigan tumbling into the play-off lottery.

If the colour had drained from his cheeks, the JJB Sports supremo could have been forgiven. He remained unmoved, convinced the team Jewell has used his money to build would eventually come good.

Brighton had pulled level by the time his faith was justified, two goals in a magical three minutes creating an explosion of noise only seen at this stadium when rugby league's most famous club are giving St Helens a pasting.

With their own promotion hopes hinging on a positive result, Reading had been expected to push forward. Instead, they found themselves overwhelmed by a side that cast off the shackles which had seen them collect just one point from their previous three outings on home soil.

Ellington had already gone close with one drive that Marcus Hahnemann fumbled round the post and Jason Jarrett sent a header fizzing wide.

Fears

But any fears that might have been building among the sell-out home section were cast aside in the momentous 180 seconds in which Wigan's fate was sealed.

Roberts is often given second billing in the prolific Latics strikeforce, yet the former West Brom man is the one with Premiership experience and when he latched onto Nicky Eaden's pass, he used all of it, delaying his cross until he got right to the by-line.

The cut-back was perfect. Ellington's finish was not. Fortunately, the striker's mis-hit four-yard effort rolled perfectly into McCulloch's path and he gleefully rammed the ball home.

Reading were still clearing their heads when Ellington provided Roberts with a through ball that left him with only Ibrahim Sonko to beat. The defender obligingly fell in Roberts' path, offering a clear sight of goal which was not wasted as he rolled a shot under Hahnemann.

After claiming an assist for the first two, Ellington might have put Wigan three up before the break but he wasted a good chance by drilling a 20-yard effort straight at Ivar Ingimarsson.

The introduction of Les Ferdinand for possibly the final game of a fine career half an hour from time was designed to unsettle the hosts. But their hearts remained as strong as their owner's.

Jarrett might have done better with a close range volley that allowed Hahnemann to save, then McCulloch did fully test the Reading keeper with a 25-yard stinger.

Ellington tested Hahnemann again nine minutes from time. Once more the American came out on top. Five minutes later, Hahnemann's luck ran out, Ellington rising at the far post to beat him with a firm downward header.

Steve Sidwell scored the most irrelevant goal of the season for Reading in injury-time.

Wigan are up and Whelan's dream has come true.

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