Wigan Athletic climbed to third in the Championship with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bristol City at DW Stadium on Friday.

Nick Powell headed in the only goal in the 52nd minute to give his team a third win in succession that takes them a point shy of the automatic promotion places.

The winner came in partly controversial circumstances given the man who supplied the cross, Joe Garner, was fortunate not to see red late in the first half.

Ex-Rangers striker Garner escaped with a yellow card after catching Bristol defender Adam Webster with a rash late challenge.

Powell's finish proved one of few moments of quality in front of goal as Wigan comfortably saw out the rest of the half, building on Tuesday's 2-1 home win over Hull City.

The Robins, beaten 4-2 at West Brom in midweek, drop back to sixth with four wins, two draws and three defeats from their nine games.