Match report: Wigan Athletic 2, Blackburn Rovers 0

The pair scored in the final 14 minutes against play-off chasing Blackburn Rovers at the DW Stadium to give the Latics a superb 2-0 win.

Despite an entertaining encounter, it appeared the game was heading for a 0-0 draw until Evans broke the deadlock in the 80th minute.

The 25-year-old took advantage of a mistake by Rovers goalkeeper Christian Walton to fire home from inside the penalty box.

And the Latics made sure of the victory in the final minute of the four minutes of stoppage time when Jacobs caught the visitors on the counter attack to fire hard and low past Walton.

In truth, the win was deserved for the hosts as they created the better chances during the game.

They remain in 17th spot in the Championship table but have moved five points clear of the drop zone.

Inside an empty stadium but with 400 cardboard cutouts of fans and former Latics legends watching, the hosts made the better start to proceedings.

Kieffer Moore should have put the hosts ahead as early as the ninth minute when he dispossessed Rovers captain Elliott Bennett.

The big centre forward bore down on goal and instead of releasing Anthony Pilkington, who had made a clever run, Moore opted to cut inside and curl a left-footed shot which went agonisingly wide of Christian Walton’s far post.

Two minutes later, the Latics had another great opportunity when centre half Cedric Kipre met Kieran Dowell’s corner but his glancing header flashed across goal.

After a nervy opening where they could have found themselves down in the game, the visitors began to find their feet in the game and had plenty of possession.

But it was Wigan who looked the more likely going forward with Sam Morsy pulling the strings in midfield and full-backs Antonee Robinson and Nathan Byrne providing the width down the flanks.

Joe Rothwell briefly troubled Latics No.1 David Marshall when his 25-yard free-kick curled onto the roof of the net in the 29th minute.

At the other end, Tosin Adarabioyo had to clear from his his six-yard box after Lowe’s centre from the left.

Three minutes later, Latics boss Paul Cook was calling for a penalty to be awarded for his team after Lowe broke clear into the box.

The forward appeared to be clipped from behind as he steadied himself to shoot but referee Darren England decided to award a free-kick in the opposite direction for an apparent handball from Lowe.

As half-time approached, Rovers threatened with another free-kick but Stewart Downing’s left-footed curler was beaten away by Marshall.

The visitors began the second half slightly in the ascendancy and Sam Gallagher ballooned a header high over the bar at the back post.

Wigan soon go themselves on the front foot however and Morsy fired a rasper from 25 yards just wide in the 51st minute after a great run down the left from Antonee Robinson.

A minute later, Pilkington fired over from the edge of the area after great hold-up play by Lowe.

Downing went close with another free-kick for Rovers, but his 63rd minute free-kick whistled past Marshall’s left-hand post.

A triple substitution by Rovers boss Tony Mowbray sparked the visitors into life momentarily and two of those replacements Adam Armstrong and Dominic Samuel almost combined to give them the lead but the former’s cross was two far in front of the latter, who was lurking inside the six yard box in the 68th minute.

Soon after Armstrong headed over after a searching cross from the right by Ryan Nyambe.

If Rovers’ subs made an impact then Paul Cook’s replacements certainly did.

Michael Jacobs looked poised to hand Wigan the lead in the 75th minute after a great run and cross down the right from Lowe. However, Jacobs shot was straight at the Walton.

Five minutes later, Wigan got the opener when Walton spilled Robinson’s centre from the left and Evans was on hand to calmly control the ball before firing home in off the underside of the crossbar.

Rovers pushed forward for the equaliser, but they were caught in the final few seconds when Jacobs raced clear before firing hard and low past Walton.

Latics: David Marshall, Nathan Byrne, Cedric Kipre, Danny Fox, Antonee Robinson, Anthony Pilkington (Lee Evans), Sam Morsy, Joe Williams, Kieran Dowell (Michael Jacobs), Jamal Lowe, Kieffer Moore (Joe Garner)

Subs: Jamie Jones, Kai Naismith, Tom Pearce, Joe Gelhardt, Jan Mlakar, Leon, Balogan.

Rovers: Christian Walton, Ryan Nyambe, Darragh Lenihan, Tosin Adarabioya, Elliott Bennett, Stewart Downing, Lewis Travis (Adam Armstrong), Lewis Holtby (Bradley Johnson), Joe Rothwel (Jacob Davenport), Sam Gallagher (Dominic Samuel), Ben Brereton (Danny Graham)

Subs: Jayson Lertwiler, Hayden Carter, Charlie Mulgrew, Richard Smallwood,