West Bromwich Albion’s lead at the top of the Championship was cut to a point as Wigan climbed out of the relegation zone with a deserved victory at The Hawthorns.
Sam Morsy drilled home from 12 yards to end the Baggies’ six-game unbeaten run and earn the in-form Latics a third successive victory.
Wigan could have been in front much earlier but Gavin Massey’s diving header hit the post, while Albion keeper Sam Johnstone denied Morsy, Joe Williams and Gary Roberts.
Filip Krovinovic twice went close for an otherwise below-par Baggies, who have Leeds United, comfortable winners at Hull earlier on Saturday, breathing down their necks in the race for the title.
- Relive Saturday’s EFL action as it happened
Albion had appeared to put a winter wobble behind them with five wins from their previous six games but never looked like threatening an equaliser once Egypt midfielder Morsy lashed home from a corner.
Indeed, Wigan should have doubled their margin of victory in stoppage time but a clean-through Jamal Lowe was denied by Johnstone one-on-one.
The Baggies keeper was much busier than his counterpart although Latics stopper Andy Marshall had produced important first-half saves to foil Matheus Pereira and Callum Robinson.
Krovinovic saw a volley cleared off the line by Cedric Kipre and later curled just wide from 20 yards as the Baggies’ cushion to third-placed Fulham was reduced to six points.
Wigan, meanwhile, continued a scarcely believable turnaround in their away form, with a fourth victory in five on their travels – a run that has seen them win at both Leeds and, now, West Brom.
Paul Cook’s men had taken just four points from their opening 13 away games this season, failing to win any, but victory moves them out of the relegation zone for the first time in three months and up to 19th.
Line-ups
West Brom
Substitutes
Wigan
Substitutes
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, West Bromwich Albion 0, Wigan Athletic 1.
Full Time
Second Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 0, Wigan Athletic 1.
Foul by Kieffer Moore (Wigan Athletic).
Jake Livermore (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Matheus Pereira (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card.
Hand ball by Kamil Grosicki (West Bromwich Albion).
Attempt saved. Jamal Lowe (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kieffer Moore.
Booking
Joe Williams (Wigan Athletic) is shown the yellow card.
David Marshall (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jake Livermore (West Bromwich Albion).
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Kal Naismith.
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Lee Evans.
Booking
Conor Townsend (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Jamal Lowe (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Conor Townsend (West Bromwich Albion).
Attempt blocked. Jamal Lowe (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sam Morsy.
Attempt missed. Filip Krovinovic (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Cedric Kipre.
Attempt saved. Hal Robson-Kanu (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Dara O’Shea with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Wigan Athletic. Lee Evans replaces Gary Roberts.
Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Semi Ajayi tries a through ball, but Kamil Grosicki is caught offside.
Gary Roberts (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Matt Phillips (West Bromwich Albion).
Attempt blocked. Matt Phillips (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Hal Robson-Kanu.
Goal!
Goal! West Bromwich Albion 0, Wigan Athletic 1. Sam Morsy (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Kieffer Moore following a corner.
Attempt missed. Cedric Kipre (Wigan Athletic) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left following a corner.
Corner, Wigan Athletic. Conceded by Dara O’Shea.
Kieffer Moore (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Kyle Bartley (West Bromwich Albion).
Foul by Nathan Byrne (Wigan Athletic).
Conor Townsend (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Wigan Athletic. Kal Naismith replaces Leon Balogun.
Attempt missed. Filip Krovinovic (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Kamil Grosicki.
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Tom Pearce.
Substitution
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Kamil Grosicki replaces Callum Robinson.
Corner, Wigan Athletic. Conceded by Sam Johnstone.
Attempt saved. Gary Roberts (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Sam Morsy.
Corner, Wigan Athletic. Conceded by Jake Livermore.
Substitution
Substitution, Wigan Athletic. Michael Jacobs replaces Gavin Massey.
Substitution
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Matt Phillips replaces Rekeem Harper.
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