Wigan Athletic defeated fellow strugglers Bolton Wanderers 2-1 at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Mark Davies equalised after the Latics had led through a Gary Caldwell header, but James McArthur’s tap-in saw the Premier League’s bottom side move to within a point of Bolton.
Wigan weathered early pressure from the home side and came into the game as the half wore on, hitting the front soon before the break when Caldwell rose to head home Jean Beausejou’s corner.
McArthur should have doubled Wigan’s lead in the second half, but after being found by Victor Moses’ cut-back, struck a weak effort straight at Adam Bogdan.
Davies drew level for Bolton midway through the second period, latching onto a loose ball and smashing a half-volley into the roof of the Wigan net.
Following the goal, Wigan came under heavy pressure from Wanderers, but survived and went in search of a winner late on.
The moment arrived when Bogdan could only parry a drive from Moses, allowing McArthur to roll the ball into an empty and secure three much-needed points for his side.