A late Arouna Kone strike earned Wigan a precious 2-1 win over Newcastle at DW Stadium on Sunday.Jean Beausejour gave Wigan the lead in the 17th minute when he fired home from close range.
The home side should have been down to 10 men when Callum McManaman put in a horrendous challenge on Massadio Haidara but he escaped punishment.
In the second half, Newcastle pressed and finally got their leveller when Davide Santon powered in an equaliser.
The game looked to be heading for a draw but Kone popped up in the right place to turn the ball in and move Wigan to within three points of safety.
Wigan began the game strongly and took the lead in the 18th minute through Beausejour.
McManaman picked up the ball and raced past Haidara, lifting a wonderful cross to the back post, where the Chilean fired through the legs of Rob Elliot.
McManaman was lucky to stay on the pitch moments later when he went in hard on Haidara.
Replays showed he made no contact with the ball and went in studs raised on the full-back, catching him around the knee.
Roberto Martinez's side almost doubled their lead when Shaun Maloney was denied by a good save from Elliot.
The Scot turned his man on the edge of the area and fired a dipping shot towards the bottom corner but the 'keeper was there to make the stop.
When the half-time whistle blew an altercation on the sideline erupted between McManaman and Newcastle assistant John Carver.
As a result, Carver was sent to the stands along with Wigan coach Graham Barrett.
After the break, McManaman nearly got his side's second but his goal-bound shot was well blocked by defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.
Newcastle were struggling to create many openings but Papiss Cisse should have done a lot better when he was put behind the Wigan defence by Yoan Gouffran.
The striker blazed his shot over the bar when he had players open in the middle of the penalty area.
Cisse was to make up for his error as he played a delightful ball to Santon to score Newcastle's equaliser.
The Italian raced onto the pass and drilled a low shot past Joel into the bottom corner with great composure.
Newcastle made a late press to win the game and but it was Wigan who scored the winner, Kone turning the ball in from inside the six-yard box to seal the victory.
