Cattermole the key for Bruce

Wigan boss Steve Bruce paid a rich tribute to midfielder Lee Cattermole - the inspiration in the 1-0 victory at home to Everton which lifted his club out of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone.

Cattermole, 20, was recently involved in a fracas outside a nightclub in his home town Stockton-on-Tees and was handed an £80 on-the-spot fine for the public order matter. Wigan also fined the England Under-21s star heavily - but he bounced back with a man-of-the-match performance against Everton.

Bruce said after Monday's victory: "He's done great for us and has arguably been our best performer this season on a consistent basis. I forget that he's only 20. But he certainly won't be going out tonight, that's for sure!"

A clinical 51st-minute strike from Henri Camara gave the Latics only their second home league win of the season.

"We are delighted that we got the points for obvious reasons," added the Latics boss.

"That was arguably one of our poorest performances, if I am being brutally honest. But the result was the most important thing on a night like this."

Toffees boss David Moyes was forced to concede his side deserved nothing from the game.

"We had one or two chances - but it wasn't to be," he said. "We started the game quite well and looked in control for long periods.

"But in the end goals are what matter. Wigan got their goal and looked stronger as the game went on.

"I was hoping for more, but it was a poor performance."