Emile Heskey ended his goal drought to lift 10-man Wigan clear of the relegation scrap as his first half strike sealed a 1-0 win against fellow strugglers Bolton on Sunday.
Heskey's first goal since August was enough for Steve Bruce's side to take all three points at the JJB Stadium despite playing virtually the entire match with 10 men after Jason Koumas's red card.
The Latics are now six points clear of third bottom Bolton after a run of one defeat in their last six matches. In contrast, Bolton look in danger of slipping out of the Premier League after a fourth successive defeat.
Bolton boss Gary Megson made nine changes to the side beaten by Sporting Lisbon in midweek. But his gamble to rest so many players in Portugal got no reward here. Bruce's preferred line-up had only four minutes together as Koumas was sent off.
The Wales midfielder caught Bolton defender Gary Cahill with a studs-up challenge. Although the contact was minimal referee Steve Tanner had no doubts and quickly flashed a red card. It was Wigan who gradually began to impose themselves despite being a man down. Antonio Valencia provided the first chance when his sublime cross picked out Heskey but the powerful frontman headed just wide.
Wilson Palacios flashed a long-range effort past a post before El Hadji Diouf responded for Bolton with a header from Gretar Steinsson's cross.
But the Latics took the lead in the 34th minute. Mario Melchiot looped a cross towards England international Heskey and he got ahead of Steinsson tovolley home from eight yards.
Diouf had the ball in the net for Bolton soon after but the Senegal striker was penalised for controlling a Kevin Davies cross with his hand before shooting past Chris Kirkland. Wigan hadn't conceded a goal in their last three matches but Bolton should have equalised early in the second half.
Davies and Grzegorz Rasiak flicked on Ali Al Habsi's free-kick and Nolan latched onto the loose ball. But with only Kirkland to beat the midfielder shot straight at the keeper.
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