Top of table Wigan came away with all three points with this 1-0 victory against Brentford at Griffin Park.
In a first half officiated abysmally by Premiership referee Graham Barber, three players were yellow carded in the opening ten minutes and five by the break.
After six minutes Stephen Evans was yellow carded for a challenge on Jason Jarrett, five minutes later Latics defender Nicky Eaden was cautioned for a foul on Stephen Hunt and almost immediately home defender Ibrahima Sonko was booked for a foul on Matt Jackson.
The first real opportunity of the game came after 23 minutes when a free flowing move by Wigan ended with a Tony Dinning left foot effort from the edge of the box, which was saved low down by keeper Paul Smith.
The Bees best chance of the half came after 34 minutes when Hunt saw his low left foot strike saved by keeper John Filan.
Deep into first-half injury time the Latics took the lead when a cruel deflection off Kevin O'Connor saw the ball fly across the face of his own penalty area and Neil Roberts drove home from an acute angle.
Two minutes after the break Hunt fired wide from 20 yards and a minute later at the other end Ellington's 30 yard effort went well wide of the target.
On the hour mark substitute Martin Rowlands saw his 25yard effort fly just wide of the left hand post and another Rowlands effort after 72 minutes flew just wide of the post.
Ten minutes from time the visitorsÂ’ Jason De Vos was unmarked at the far post following a free kick but his header was directed wide of the target.
The sixth and final booking of the game came after 81 minutes when Neil Roberts was yellow carded for a foul on central defender Ijah Anderson