Deco of Chelsea gestures during their Premiership League football match against Wigan at the JJB Stadium, Wigan, England, yesterday. - AP

LONDON (AP)

Deco scored with a free kick yesterday to give Chelsea a 1-0 victory at Wigan and extend coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's winning start in the Premier League.

The Blues now have six points after two games and lead Liverpool on goal difference at the top of the league.

The Portugal midfielder's chip caught Wigan's stand-in keeper Mike Pollitt out of position in the fourth minute and drifted into the top corner.

Chelsea's hopes of reproducing the attacking style that characterised Scolari's time in charge of Brazil gave way to a cautious approach that effectively shut Wigan out of the game.

Wigan lost their England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland during the warm-up and Pollitt was at fault for the goal. Lee Cattermole handled the ball on the edge of the area and Pollitt left his corner exposed, with Deco clipping the ball over the wall and into the net.

Wilson Palacios and Jason Koumas both tested Chelsea goalkeeper Peter Cech as Wigan reacted strongly.

Chelsea successfully took the sting out of the second half, giving Wigan a significant amount of possession without allowing clear chances.

In the closing stages, Wigan's Amr Zaki began to exploit the space on Chelsea's right but the hosts were let down by their wayward shooting.