Heskey firmly in shop window with 100th league goal

Portsmouth 1 Wigan Athletic

November has just begun which means there are only two months to go until the transfer window reopens and Emile Heskey's future is increasingly under scrutiny, further helped by his match-winning goal in the relentless, teeming rain at Fratton Park. With Portsmouth going for a winner in injury time, they lost their shape at the back and on the counter-attack Heskey was there to slide in the winner and his 100th league goal.

Heskey's transfer to Wigan for £5.5m two years ago has seen him regain form and his England place too and some clubs – not least his former side, Liverpool – are said to be pondering a move in January.

His team-mate Jason Koumas suggested he should look after himself and think about everyone else second. The Wales international said: "What he does for England he is doing for us, and he is massive for us. His performance was strong, and he has got a goal to cap it off. I am not surprised that he is being linked with going back to Liverpool. You look at England's fortunes, and he is playing a big part, so it is not a surprise at all. He is a top player. He has got to look after himself and his family, and whatever decision he makes will be the right one."

This was not the afternoon Tony Adams hoped for on his home debut as Portsmouth manager. He saw Papa Bouba Diop give away a penalty for the second consecutive game, converted by Amr Zaki, although Niko Kranjcar put Portsmouth level before Heskey's late show.

Adams, who hopes to persuade his former Arsenal team-mate Martin Keown to join his staff today, has picked up one point from three games, although there is no doubting his assertion that his side, who hit the crossbar three times, will play worse than this in future and collect all the points.

Goals: Zaki pen (45) 0-1; Kranjcar (82) 1-1; Heskey (90) 1-2.

Portsmouth (4-4-2): James; Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj (Pamarot, 90 ); Diop (Utaka, 73), Diarra, Davis, Traoré (Kranjcar, h-t); Crouch, Defoe. Substitutes not used: Ashdown (gk), Kaboul, Hughes, Kanu.

Wigan Athletic (4-5-1): Kirkland; Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa; Valencia, Cattermole, Koumas, Palacios, Heskey; Zaki (Camara, 89). Substitutes not used: Pollitt (gk), Taylor, Scharner, Kilbane, Brown, De Ridder.

Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire).

Booked: Wigan Cattermole, Bramble, Figueroa.

Man of the match: Heskey.

Attendance: 18,416.