The new strike pair caused the Sunderland defence no end of problems as Wigan followed up their midweek home victory over Middlesbrough with another convincing performance.

Heskey gave the home side a 19th-minute lead with a predatory strike, before two penalties in nine minutes midway through the second half by Denny Landzaat and then Sibierski sealed Wigan's second win in four days.

While Sibierski maintained his impressive record of scoring in each of Wigan's three games this season since his free transfer from Newcastle, it was Heskey's return to form that will most please the Latics faithful.

The 29-year-old former England striker failed to sparkle in his first season at the JJB Stadium, scoring a modest nine goals in 34 league games.

But he was back to his destructive best today as his pace and physical presence proved a constant thorn in the side of the Sunderland centre-backs, Paul McShane and Nyron Nosworthy.

Sunderland actually started brightly after manager Roy Keane named an attacking line-up, with Dwight Yorke and Kieran Richardson returning to the midfield, while forwards Daryl Murphy and Anthony Stokes also returned.

Murphy partnered Michael Chopra up front while Stokes pushed up from a right-midfield role and Richardson did likewise on the left.

Sunderland's width continued to stretch Wigan and Chopra had the game's first shot on target in the 13th minute, his 25-yard free-kick forcing Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland to tip over the crossbar, before defender Greg Halford turned the ball over from the resulting corner.

Wigan gradually got on top and took the lead after good work by Antonio Valencia on the Wigan right.

The Ecuadorian international bundled his way through a meek challenge by Sunderland left-back Ross Wallace, and although his low cross was deflected by McShane, Heskey had got in front of Nosworthy to turn the ball home from eight yards.

Heskey did appear to come from an offside position, and perhaps wanting to make up for that error, the referee's assistant flagged Heskey offside moments after his opener when it looked he was legitimately through on goal.

Referee Mike Riley then incurred the wrath of the home crowd when he refused to give a penalty for Halford's clumsy lunge from behind on Wigan playmaker Jason Koumas.

Valencia almost allowed Sunderland back into the game when he gave the ball away in his own half, allowing Richardson to play in Murphy - but his left-footed shot across goal was too close to Kirkland, who saved with his left foot.

Riley then agreed with the Wigan fans when he penalised McShane for a push on Heskey in the 40th minute and the former Birmingham and Liverpool man almost scored from Landzaat's free-kick.

Heskey got away from his marker Nosworthy at the back post to head goalwards, but £9million goalkeeper Craig Gordon showed his class by tipping over Heskey's close-range effort.

Sunderland replaced Stokes and Yorke with Danny Collins and Liam Miller at half-time, and again the visitors started the half strongly.

Halford found Miller on the right wing in the 55th minute and his centre went through to Wallace at the back post, but his firm strike was deflected wide by Wigan's new Swedish defender Andreas Granqvist.

However, Sunderland's defence were again outmuscled by the Wigan attack as the home side put the game beyond the Black Cats.

First, Collins was penalised for grappling with Sibierski in the 61st minute, and Landzaat showed a calm head to side-foot the spot-kick home.

Then eight minutes later, another substitute, Russell Anderson, fouled Heskey, and this time Sibierski stepped up to hit the penalty down the middle and give Wigan an unassailable advantage.

New Latics favourite Sibierski was then applauded off by the home crowd as he was replaced by Julius Aghahowa in the 76th minute, and Heskey received a similar response when Caleb Folan came on for him two minutes later.

Wigan almost added another with seven minutes remaining following a right-wing cross by big summer signing Koumas.

Collins deflected the ball away from Folan with his head but Gordon still needed to pull off a fine save to prevent an own goal.