Premier League: Wigan 2 Birmingham 1

An injury-time strike from Maynor Figueroa ensured Wigan edged a nervy relegation dogfight against Birmingham by the odd goal in three.

Liam Ridgewell’s opener for the Midlanders was cancelled out by Tom Cleverley’s equaliser before the break, before Figueroa hit a beauty with his right foot to the delight of the majority of fans in the DW Stadium.

Wigan went into the game looking like a team fully aware that three points were a must as they aimed to drag themselves off the foot of the table.

But they were rocked when the visitors grabbed the opening goal after only five minutes.

Barry Ferguson and Martin Jirinek flicked the ball back into the Wigan box for Ridgewell, despite looking a yard offside, to volley home past Ali Al Habsi.

Birmingham then enjoyed a dominant 10 minutes – only for Al Habsi to keep them out – before the home side levelled through Cleverley midway through the half.

Ben Watson and Emmerson Boyce created an opening down the right, and the on-loan Manchester United midfielder slotted home after Ben Foster could only parry the ball out of his goalmouth.

Wigan took charge for the rest of the half without managing to edge in front, Cleverley and Charles N’Zogbia coming closest to finding the net, yet only to be denied.

The Blues came closer still on the stroke of half-time when Sebastian Larsson’s 30-yard free-kick rebounded off the crossbar and away to safety.

Jerome almost restored Birmingham’s lead just before the hour mark, only for Al Habsi to make another important stop, while Figueroa squandered an even better chance for Wigan, firing straight at Foster from 10 yards.

Both sides made attacking substitutions in the final third, Wigan throwing on Hugo Rodallega and Conor Sammon, and Blues introducing David Bentley and Obafemi Martins.

Rodallega thought he had found a winner with 10 minutes remaining, but his ‘goal’ was chalked off for a push on Roger Johnson seconds before he lobbed over the keeper.

There was still to be a hero, however, as Figueroa beat Foster from 20 yards for a dramatic winner.