JASON Roberts took just 33 seconds to start repaying the £2million Wigan splashed out for him - exposing the defensive frailties which will force Craig Brown into the transfer market this week.

Roberts, signed from West Brom, ran in ram home Gary Teale's cross from the right, capitalising on the first of two mistakes by Preston's Tyrone Mears - both of which resulted in goals for the Latics.

Preston responded positively, with Richard Cresswell heading Graham Alexander's corner just wide on 14 minutes, before Mears' powerful shot from Ricardo Fuller on the right was saved by John Filan.

Filan performed acrobatics on 16 minutes to deny Alexander, but it was the Scot's cross from a free-kick on 29 minutes which allowed Dickson Etuhu to rise above the Wigan defence to head home from close range.

Teale laid on Wigan's second just before half-time, when he set up Nathan Ellington's thumping six yard header to give the visitors the lead at the break.

It was an advantage they built on in the second half, when, on 71 minutes, Teale latched on to a Jonathan Gould goal-kick, racing down the right-wing before crossing into the net from a tight angle at speed.

Their fourth came on 79 minutes when Teale broke down the right again to cross to Ellington who drilled his 11th goal of the season.

Jason Jarrett's foul on Richard Cresswell in the Wigan box gave Preston an 85th minute consolation penalty, which Alexander duely converted.

Craig Brown described the game as a 'six pointer.' As a result of the defeat, Preston are now three points off the play-offs.

PNE 2 - 4 WIGAN