Gary Caldwell's Wigan secured a 2-0 win over his former club Exeter to leapfrog the Grecians and move three points clear of the League One drop zone.
Wigan took the lead within five minutes when Fraser Murray's pinpoint left-wing cross was headed home by Joe Taylor, marking his ninth goal in his 12 league appearances since joining on loan from Huddersfield in January.
It was almost 2-0 when Harrison Bettoni's clever lob from 30 yards out caught Joe Whitworth off his line only to come back off the crossbar.
The only downside for Wigan at the break was that the game was not already in the bag, and Exeter continued to live a charmed life as Jensen Weir headed another Murray delivery just past the far post.
The precarious nature of Wigan's 1-0 lead was shown as former Latics forward Josh Magennis laid the ball off to substitute Akeel Higgins, who fired just wide of the far post.
Exeter came closer when Higgins forced a superb point-blank range save from Sam Tickle, with Carlos Mendes-Gomes lashing the rebound wide from bang in front of goal.
And Wigan took full advantage with five minutes to go when Murray's left-wing corner missed everyone in the middle and crept over the line.
Match report supplied by PA Media
Gary Caldwell: 'The players dug in'
Matt Taylor: 'We are sleepwalking towards relegation'
