WIGAN ATHLETIC 2, BLACKBURN ROVERS 0
A Lancashire derby, in which the stakes were huge for both sides at opposite ends of the Championship, went Wigan’s way.
It was a massive win for Latics, courtesy of late goals from substitutes Lee Evans and Michael Jacobs, as it moved them five points clear of the relegation places.
And in light of other results at the bottom – wins for Charlton, Luton and Middlesbrough and draws for Barnsley and Hull – this was a significant victory for Paul Cook’s side.
It extended their impressive run to one loss in 11 league games which has transformed what looked a hopeless fight against relegation to looking in good shape to beat the drop as they are on 47 points.
Cook praised his side’s never-say-die spirit.
“We have a great set of lads and when clubs have good dressing rooms you are on the way to success,” he said.
Cook added they “still have a bit to do” in the battle to beat the drop, but if they beat fellow strugglers Stoke on Tuesday they will be in a strong position.
“Three points against Stoke would make it difficult not to stay up. It would take a horrendously bad run,” he continued.
Cook added it is important to get to safety as quickly as possible.
“If you are clinging to every result, it will be painfully tough,” he said.
While Wigan were celebrating, it was a costly loss for Rovers, a huge setback for their pursuit of a play-off place.
Tony Mowbray’s below-par side is four points adrift of the top six with seven games left.
“There was nothing in the game. We controlled the second half and, if anybody was going to win the game, you thought we were, but we found a way of losing the game,” he said.
Mowbray, despite his side’s territorial advantage, admitted his side did not carry enough threat.
Wigan were unsurprisingly unchanged from the side that won so impressively at Huddersfield Town the previous week.
Blackburn had two enforced alterations from the 3-1 home win against Bristol City as Corey Evans and Joe Rankin-Costello were ruled out through injury, their places going to Ryan Nyambe and Joe Rothwell.
Latics, with only one loss in their previous 10 league games, started the brighter.
Kieffer Moore flashed a shot narrowly wide and Cedric Kipre headed not far off target in the opening 11 minutes.
After that early promise, the match became a damp squib as the players battled a torrential downpour.
It took promotion-chasing Rovers almost half an hour to muster their first chance when Rothwell’s free kick dipped just over the bar.
And on the stroke of half time, they went even closer when Stewart Downing’s free kick forced a fine save from David Marshall, the only on-target goal attempt of the opening period.
The start to the second half was far more positive.
Rovers’ Sam Gallagher headed well over while for Latics Sam Morsy’s 30-yard drive was not far off target and Anthony Pilkington bent a shot over the bar.
Downing was unable to find his range as a second free kick of the match was not far wide.
The breakthrough came from Latics in the 81st minute.
Rovers’ goalkeeper Christian Walton flapped at a cross from which substitute Evans profited as his left-foot shot went in off the underside the crossbar.
The visitors came close to an equaliser almost straight from the kick-off when substitute Dominic Samuel’s header forced a decent save from David Marshall.
Latics sealed victory in the third of four minutes of added time after a clinical counter attack.
Joe Williams released Jacobs who raced clear on the left from half-way, beat Downing for pace before drilling a shot low past Walton.