
Wigan have become the first team to beat Leeds United twice at Elland Road in the Championship since Marcelo Bielsa took charge of the Whites in the summer of 2018
Leeds United slipped off the top of the Championship table as they lost at home to strugglers Wigan Athletic, with Marcelo Bielsa's side paying the price for missing a host of chances.
The visitors went ahead just before the hour mark when Joe Williams' corner deflected off Whites forward Pablo Hernandez and dipped under the crossbar past keeper Kiko Casilla, who was under pressure on his own line.
Jack Harrison had struck the post as Leeds dominated the first half, with striker Patrick Bamford sending a free header past the upright soon after the restart.
Bamford then had two efforts cleared off the line as Leeds searched for an equaliser, with Latics centre-back Cedric Kipre well placed to clear the second attempt in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time as Wigan held on to record just their second away league win of the season.
Wigan remain in 22nd place in the table but are now two points from safety after recording back-to-back league wins for the first time in 2019-20.
Leeds consistently created opportunities, with Hernandez the playmaker in the first 45 minutes, but the Elland Road club's profligacy in front of goal left their supporters frustrated once again - with new striker Jean-Kevin Augustin, who has been doing extra training since joining from RB Leipzig on Monday, left out of the squad.
Helder Costa tested Wigan keeper David Marshall from a tight angle early on and the Portuguese forward sent a shot over the bar before Harrison spurned a glorious chance to open the scoring from two yards out.
Wigan's goal came against the run of play, but Paul Cook's side were happy to sit back and soak up pressure after taking the lead - with Kipre impressing at the heart of the away defence.
The visitors almost doubled their lead when Tom Pearce broke away from a Leeds corner and was left one-on-one with Casilla, but Stuart Dallas got back to stick a foot in before Pearce was able to pull the trigger.
Leeds have now lost three of their past four games - failing to score in each of those defeats - and are now just three points ahead of third-placed Fulham, having been 11 points clear of the play-off places on 11 December.
They also looked set for automatic promotion last season but a 2-1 home defeat by 10-man Wigan on Good Friday prompted a late-season collapse which saw them finish third in the table and eventually lose to Derby County in the play-off semi-finals.
Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa:
"This was an impossible match to lose, but we lost. The single question is why we lost a match which we had to win? We should have scored at least one of the 15 chances that we had.
"After 15 chances we had another 10 situations where we didn't create danger. We didn't create danger in the box or inside the six-yard box.
"There was one team which tried to attack and I didn't see a problem with our defence. We played the way we had to play, but it's difficult to think we would not score.
"It's clear that the responsibility is on me as manager. If the team doesn't do what I ask, then okay. But if the team does everything I ask then it's my responsibility (if we lose)."
Wigan Athletic manager Paul Cook:
"I'm delighted for the players. We were 1-0 down at half-time in midweek [at home to Sheffield Wednesday], so to have finished the week with six points is brilliant. We showed desire, determination and a real spirit.
"Last year's win over them [Leeds] was freakish, it a was million to one shot last season. Leeds took control today but I thought we defended manfully.
"You know you're going to be under pressure here, but we filled the gaps really well.
"It gives us a great opportunity to stay up. If we keep winning games then we won't have a problem."