The east Yorkshire club were brought crashing back down to earth following an unbeaten start to life in the Barclays Premier League as the Latics ran riot at the KC Stadium.

Shocking defending from the top-flight new-boys was mostly to blame as Wigan went 2-0 ahead inside the opening 12 minutes before finishing the job in style after the restart.

The Tigers were boosted by the arrival of defender Paul McShane just hours before the clash, and although Brown admitted news on the signing of Fraizer Campbell is premature, he is hopeful of landing the Manchester United ace before the transfer window comes to a close.

"We're expecting news to get to the chairman after the game," he said. "We'll allow them to conduct their business and hopefully we'll get the thumbs up and be able to move on Fraizer, but at this moment in time I don't know."

He added: "Everybody tells you about the Premier League and what it's going to be like, and Wigan have had five shots on target and beaten us 5-0.

"Was that the gulf in class? I say to myself no. At half-time, Hull City were beating Hull City.

"We slipped up at a set-piece at one end and we slipped up from a set-piece at the other end.

"That was a little detail that was the difference between the two teams, and that gives me a little bit of hope.

"The Premier League punishes you when you make a mistake or you're out of position, hopefully Paul McShane will bring that Premier League mentality.

"It's a tough one to swallow. I didn't think the gulf in the two teams was five goals."

Despite the comfortable margin of victory, Steve Bruce was adamant his side's display was their worst of the season to date.

The Wigan manager saw Sam Ricketts' own goal give his visiting outfit the lead after only four minutes, before the impressive Antonio Valencia netted a second.

Amr Zaki, another player who shone during the victory, then grabbed a second-half brace either side of Emile Heskey's strike to secure a first league win of the season for the Latics.

"We're only three games in of course but, arguably, it's the worst we've played, it sounds stupid enough but it is," said Bruce.

"We got off to a great start and then we got the second one and I said at half-time that the first 20 minutes would be vital, if they get one back then it could be a tough afternoon.

"It was difficult coming here, make no mistake about that. We thought it was going to be as hard as it was going to be.

"Even after 20 minutes when we had scored two, they were really up for it. The crowd is going to be vital for them, I've been involved with teams that come up and he (Brown) has got some decent players."

Bruce, who revealed Kevin Kilbane will face a couple of weeks on the sidelines after suffering a fractured cheekbone, reserved special praise for Valencia and Zaki.

"I thought the outstanding player on the pitch was Valencia, he had a fantastic match," added the Latics boss.

"Zaki is doing what we thought he could do and all those trips to Cairo have proved worthwhile.

"We hope that we've unearthed one there and we hope he keeps doing what he does, which would be fantastic for us."