A stunning late goal from substitute Yanic Wildschut gave Wigan a hard-earned 2-1 win that enabled them to leapfrog opponents Walsall into second in Sky Bet League One.
As the game entered stoppage time, the former Middlesbrough winger cut in from the left and hit a low shot from 25 yards which flew under the diving Neil Etheridge after the Saddlers had dominated the second half.
Wigan were easily the better side in the first period. Former Walsall strike Will Grigg just failed to connect with a fine low cross from Dave Perkins in the 28th minute before the Latics took the lead six minutes before the interval.
Young defender Matt Preston was caught in possession bursting forward and Conor McAleny, on loan from Everton, raced through to smash an unstoppable shot past Etheridge.
The Saddlers offered no threat going forward while Wigan looked dangerous every time they swept forward, and a low ball across the face of goal by Donervon Daniels almost brought another for the visitors before the break.
But it was a different story in the second half and Walsall deservedly equalised when Sam Mantom blasted home his sixth of the season when a Jason Demetriou free-kick rebounded to him in the 68th minute.
Walsall's Milan Lalkovic nearly scored shortly afterwards, but Wigan held on then grabbed the late winner.