A second half strike from Steven Fletcher was the difference between Wednesday and Wigan on a freezing afternoon at Hillsborough.

The Scotland international found the target from outside the area to warm the home fans, adding to the Owls’ impressive tally from distance this season.

Only one side in the Championship - Derby - boast a better conversion rate and Fletcher’s effort was the highlight of a relatively one-sided clash.

Overall, the Owls were by far the better side, bossing the ball for long periods as the Latics offered little in the final third.

Indeed, Wigan could have offered few complaints had the margin of victory been greater as Wednesday asked all the questions from the start.

After Cheyenne Dunkley deflected a Fletcher thunderbolt wide, the hosts came close to taking an early lead from the resulting corner.

Marco Matias aimed hard and low, which almost caught out goalkeeper Jamie Jones, who saved with his legs on the line.

Dunkley was back in the thick of the action on 25 minutes when a perfectly timed last-gasp challenge halted a tearing Adam Reach run as the wideman bore down on goal.

For Wigan’s part, the visitors had to wait until 10 minutes before half time to carve an opening and they probably should have profited.

Anthony Pilkington glanced across goal and Joe Garner was on the spot at the back stick but misjudged his header that went wide.

Michael Hector lashed a snapshot over the crossbar following the resumption before Wednesday finally made the breakthrough on 63 minutes.

Little seemed on for Fletcher when he picked up possession just past halfway but the striker advanced to coolly curl into the far corner beyond the despairing James.

Wigan were on the back foot as the Owls sought to put the contest out of reach and only a brave block by Cedric Kipre prevented a second Fletcher goal.

Kipre then denied George Boyd from close range and James did well to hold a drilled shot from the former Burnley man.

The Wigan custodian thwarted substitute Atdhe Nuhiu with five minutes to go and Wednesday ended the contest as they started it, in full control.

Wednesday: Westwood, Palmer, Lees, Hector, Fox, Boyd, Bannan, Hutchinson, Reach, Matias (Joao 61), Fletcher (Nuhiu 81)