Steve Bruce has highlighted his first ever win as Latics boss as his most significant.
The victory came in his third game in charge, on December 15, when he got one over his former Old Trafford team-mate Mark Hughes as Wigan beat Blackburn 5-3 at the JJB Stadium.
"If I had to pick one game out, it would be that one," Bruce said. "I
t was an amazing game. We were 3-0 up, they got it back to 3-3 and then we got two more to win it.
"The players hadn't won for 14 games (since mid-August) and that result gave them the belief and brought the confidence back that we could win a game again."
A stunning hat-trick from Marcus Bent sank Rovers and gave Latics their first three points since August 18.
Denny Landzaat set the ball rolling in the 10th minute with a cool finish and two minutes later Bent skipped round Stephen Warnock and drove his shot past Brad Friedel.
Chris Kirkland saved a first half penalty from Benni McCarthy after Emile Heskey fouled Christopher Samba. Latics were 3-0 up in the 37th minute when Paul Scharner headed in Ryan Taylor's pin-point free-kick.
Heskey was stretchered off two minutes later with an ankle injury and on the stroke of half-time striker Roque Santa Cruz rifled in past Chris Kirkland at his near post.
Five minutes after the re-start Kirkland could only parry the ball out for Santa Cruz to tap in.
Brett Emerton was sent off in the 57th minute for a second yellow card.
But Blackburn drew level when Santa Cruz headed in for his hat-trick.
Wigan regained the lead in the 66th minute when Antonio Valencia
squared for Bent to hammer home. And they made sure of the points with nine minutes to play when Bent converted Julius Aghahowa's cross at the back post. "It was a big, important victory for us," said Bruce.
FIVE OTHER CRITICAL GAMES UNDER STEVE BRUCE Wed, Jan 2: Liverpool 1 Wigan 1 TITUS Bramble's sensational equaliser 10 minutes from time ended two-and-a-half-years and 21 games without anything to show against the Big Four. It cancelled out Fernando Torres' 49th minute opener.
Sat, Feb 12: Derby 0 Wigan 1 ANTOINE Sibierski had been on the pitch less than 30 seconds when Marcus Bent nodded down Titus Bramble's pass and the Frenchman rifled in from 20 yards in the 82nd minute. It was Wigan's first away win of the season and all but condemned Derby to relegation.
Sun, Mar 16: Wigan 1 Bolton 0EMILE Heskey ended 20 games without a goal when he blasted in an unstoppable volley in the 34th minute. It made it all the more memorable after Jason Koumas was sent in the fourth minute – in what was deemed a two-footed tackle on Gary Cahill.
Mon, Apr 14: Chelsea 1 Wigan 1 THE Gods were smiling down on Latics at Stamford Bridge. Chris Kirkland made fine saves from Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou while John Terry hit the bar. Michael Essien struck from 20 yards in the 55th minute before Emile Heskey converted Jason Koumas' teasing cross in injury time.
Sat, May 3: Aston Villa 0 Wigan 2 THE game which made Premier League safety a certainty. Antonio Valencia's second half double moved Latics onto 40 points and ended in-form Villa's hopes of finishing fifth.
The full article contains 583 words and appears in Wigan Evening Post newspaper.
