The Tigers were given a harsh reminder of just how tough this season is going to be with a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Wigan Athletic at the KC Stadium on Saturday.

City simply had no answer to Wigan's fast attacking play and have plenty to think about during the international break.

Phil Brown was forced to make two changes to the side that started against Blackburn Rovers last weekend.

With Marlon King ineligible due to the terms of his loan agreement from his parent club, former Latics man Caleb Folan came in up front.

An injury to Anthony Gardner meant Wayne Brown was handed an opportunity to impress in the middle of defence.

On his 17th birthday and on the day that he signed his first professional contract, Liam Cooper took his place on the bench for a league game for the first time.

Skipper Ian Ashbee lined up for his 400th league appearance while Craig Fagan was making his 200th league outing.

New loan signing from Sunderland Paul McShane wasn't involved, but was an interested spectator as he watched from the sidelines.

Steve Bruce's Wigan started with Emile Heskey and Amr Zaki up front.

Jason Koumas was included on the bench.

For the second game in a row, the referee - this week Michael Jones from Cheshire - was taking charge of his first-ever game in the Premier League.

Despite Hull FC's participation in the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final at Wembley, it was another full-house at the KC Stadium.

On a warm and sunny afternoon, City started with Craig Fagan on the left of midfield and Richard Garcia on the right.

City had a great chance inside two minutes when Dean Marney's fabulous ball found Geovanni.

He in turn found Fagan, but he dragged a low shot wide from 20 yards.

Despite that promising start, it was Wigan who took the lead in the fifth minute.

Kevin Kilbane's poor corner deceived everybody, including Sam Ricketts on the near post, and found the far corner of the net.

The visitors could have doubled their lead four minutes later when Heskey flicked on for Zaki, but he fired high and wide from a difficult angle.

City were almost level on 12 minutes when Folan's ball across goal was flicked over his own bar by a Wigan defender.

However, from the corner Wigan broke to make it 2-0.

Having received the ball from Zaki in his own half, Antonio Valencia sprinted past what remained of the City defence and when Boaz Myhill refused to come off his line, the striker had the simple task of slotting the ball past the keeper and into the net.

City were struggling to put any passing play together with Wigan dominating the midfield.

Geovanni forced Chris Kirkland into a save in the 28th minute, although it was easy for the Wigan keeper who dived low to his right.

Ian Ashbee was booked on 39 minutes following a foul in the centre circle and City were still struggling to stamp any kind of authority on the game.

City could have pulled a goal back a minute before half time when Andy Dawson's corner dropped to Ashbee 12 yards out, but he scuffed a shot horribly wide.

Half Time: Tigers 0-2 Wigan

City went close to a goal just seconds into the second half when Dawson's in-swinging free kick was met by Michael Turner, but his header went over.

Garcia was the next to have a chance after being played in by Geovanni, but the Australian's shot was well tipped away by Kirkland.

Interestingly, Phil Brown had taken a seat in the Director's Box at the start of the second half with assistant manager Brian Horton now prowling the technical area.

At that point, it was unclear whether or not Brown - who had been animated throughout the first-half - had switched positions through choice.

City's first change came 11 minutes into the second half when Dean Windass came on to replace Geovanni to make his 100th appearance in the Premier League.

His first contribution was to win his side a free kick on the right edge of the box.

Dawson's delivery was again met by Turner, but his header was cleared by the Wigan defence.

That was soon followed by City's second change as Nick Barmby came on for Garcia.

That meant a switch over to the right for Fagan with Barmby playing on the left.

Wigan wrapped the game up on 63 minutes when they made it 3-0.

City failed to cut out a low ball in from the right, allowing Zaki to control and fire a low shot on the turn past Myhill and into the net.

Five minutes later it was 4-0.

Brown's poor back header was latched onto by Heskey who produced a fine finish.

City's final change came in the 71st minute with Bernard Mendy replacing Dawson.

Mendy played at right back with Sam Ricketts switching to left back.

To their credit, the Tigers were continuing to go in search of a goal, but Turner once again headed over the bar, this time from Marney's corner.

At the other end, Wigan were queuing up to score and Zaki made it 5-0 with nine minutes remaining, firing a shot in off the underside of the bar, which the assistant referee ruled had crossed the line.

Mendy should have pulled a goal back on 87 minutes after being set up by Folan, while at the other end, Zaki was crowded out as he went in search of his hat-trick.

The Tigers were spared any further punishment as we suffered our heaviest home league defeat since going down to Lincoln City by the same scoreline in October 1959.

Tigers (4-4-2) Boaz Myhill; Sam Ricketts, Michael Turner, Wayne Brown, Andy Dawson (Mendy 71); Richard Garcia (Barmby 60), Dean Marney, Ian Ashbee [captain], Craig Fagan; Geovanni (Windass 56), Caleb Folan.

Subs: Matt Duke, Bernard Mendy, Liam Cooper, Bryan Hughes, Peter Halmosi, Nick Barmby, Dean Windass.

Bookings: Ashbee 40

Wigan Athletic (4-4-2) Chris Kirkland; Mario Melchiot, Emmerson Boyce, Titus Bramble, Maynor Figueroa; Antonio Valencia, Wilson Palacios, Lee Cattermole (Kapo 79), Kevin Kilbane (Brown 56); Amr Zaki, Emile Heskey (Camara 85).

Subs: Mike Pollitt, Jason Koumas, Michael Brown, Daniel De Ridder, Olivier Kapo, Henri Camara, Tomasz Kupisz.

Bookings: Nil