Johnson: I was '˜comfortable' Wigan wouldn't score

City struck a massive blow in the battle for survival, as they climbed out of the bottom three thanks to Aden Flint’s 87th-minute winner from a disputed corner.

Johnson revealed the final few minutes were very tense, but he was always confident his side - who’d won only two of their previous 22 matches - could hold out against the Championship’s lowest scorers.

“We needed that – the run we’ve been on hasn’t been great, to say the least,” recognised the City manager.

“I’m just delighted to get the win as we had that bit of luck.

“It probably wasn’t a corner but we got it and, over the course of the 90 minutes, we were the better side. We had chances in the first half.

“It’s a massive win and the players are buzzing – it’s like a nightclub in that dressing room!

“We’ve need that winning feeling back, especially today which had a cup final feeling about it.

“The last five minutes was like three hours for me, but I thought we looked reasonably solid.

“Wigan have good players so we knew they’d have chances - but they don’t score a lot.

“While we kept their wide men quiet, I felt comfortable - but not that comfortable given our recent history.”

Johnson says the win was reward for an upturn in performances of late that have deserved better.

“We’ve had decent results with good points at Newcastle and against a good Norwich side,” he added.

“Burton was disappointing but still a point, and we’ve had two clean sheets in three games, which is always a good sign.

“Tammy Abraham is coming back to fitness, so there’s a lot to be positive about.

“That goal in the last five minutes has rewarded us for sticking in there.

“It was scrappy, yes, but it was always going to be be as it was two teams fighting for their lives.”