By Owen Phillips

McCarthy (centre) had a number of chances before netting the winner

The impressive Emile Heskey swept Wigan ahead from Emmerson Boyce's fine cross.

But Rovers levelled in first-half injury-time when David Bentley curled in from inside the box following neat interplay with Francis Jeffers.

Home keeper Jason Brown came off the bench to save a Svetoslav Todorov penalty and Wigan were made to pay when McCarthy rolled in the winner.

Interview: Blackburn manager Mark Hughes

Interview: Wigan boss Paul Jewell

Wigan, chasing a first away Premiership win in eight games, made the perfect start with a goal after two minutes.

Boyce got clear on the right and his low cross was gloriously turned in by Heskey at the near post.

McCarthy could have levelled almost immediately but scuffed his shot wide when well placed.

And the South African striker had two more excellent chances to draw Blackburn level.

A smart turn allowed him time in the box but he dragged the first opportunity across goal and then shot straight at Chris Kirkland when one-on-one.

But Blackburn were not at their best and despite McCarthy's hat-trick of chances, Wigan were posing the greater threat.

Heskey (left) celebrates his second goal of the season with Camara

Heskey teed up Henri Camara who fizzed a shot wide and Antonio Valencia showed a moment of real quality, skipping past two men and lashing a shot just wide.

But Wigan were left to rue their failure to make their first-half superiority tell when Bentley scored a cracking equaliser in injury-time.

Lucas Neill played the ball to the edge of the box and Bentley dummied the pass, accepted Jeffers' precise return ball and neatly curled a shot past Kirkland.

Rovers began the second half like a team who knew they had got away with a below-par first-half display.

Jeffers went close, Robbie Savage saw a free-kick tipped away by Kirkland and Andre Ooijer shot over the bar.

But Mark Hughes' men were looking vulnerable on the break and they were exposed a couple of times before Heskey outpaced Ooijer and was brought down in the box.

Brown, on as a half-time substitute for the injured Brad Friedel, made a magnificent double stop, saving Todorov's penalty and then blocking the Bulgarian's follow-up.

And Wigan were made to pay when a long ball forward saw Rovers sub Jason Roberts race through.

Inexplicably Kirkland came rushing from his goal but never looked like getting there.

Wigan seemed to have a good case for offside against McCarthy but Roberts touched the ball past the keeper to McCarthy who tapped into the empty net.

Former Latics striker Roberts and McCarthy could have wrapped up the win late on but Kirkland pulled off two superb saves to keep the score at 2-1.

"It is important when you get the opportunity you try to take it and Jason did exceptionally well in that respect.

"I always knew Jason had potential and it was a big decision when he came here because he could have gone as a first-choice keeper at a lower level.

"But he has got great confidence in his own ability and he feels he can make it at the very top level - and you would not argue with that on today's performance."

Wigan manager Paul Jewell on Blackburn's winner:
"I think it is more than a little bit (offside), but it still counts so there is no point me ranting and raving.

"We knew Blackburn had had a match on Thursday and the plan was to catch them cold and it worked well but the timing of the equaliser was a kick in the teeth.

"Blackburn came out for the second half full of energy and we rode the storm, but we got the penalty.

"If that had gone in I think we would have won the game but all of a sudden their keeper saves two rebounds, it gives their fans a lift and they get on the end of a hoof which was arguably offside."

Blackburn: Friedel (Brown 45), Emerton, Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Neill, Bentley, Savage, Kerimoglu (Mokoena 70), Pedersen, McCarthy, Jeffers (Roberts 70).
Subs Not Used: Gallagher, McEveley.

Booked: Jeffers, Ooijer, Mokoena.

Goals: Bentley 45, McCarthy 81.

Wigan: Kirkland, Boyce, Jackson, De Zeeuw, Baines, Landzaat, Scharner, Valencia (Teale 67), Kilbane (McCulloch 74), Heskey, Camara (Todorov 64).
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Johansson.

Booked: Scharner, Kilbane, Baines, Landzaat.

Goals: Heskey 2.

Att: 17,859.