BLACKBURN ROVERS 1 Emnes (58) WIGAN ATHLETIC 0

MARVIN EMNES scored the only goal as Blackburn edged out Wigan to move out of the relegation zone.

In a nervy relegation “six-pointer” between two of the bottom three sides at the start of the day, Emnes struck in the 58th minute by netting his fourth goal of the season for Rovers, whose fine start under Tony Mowbray continued.

It was a deserved victory on the balance of play, though chances were at a premium at both ends.

That won’t matter to Blackburn though, who have picked up seven points from a possible nine since the change of management.

Wigan – who were managed by assistant, Graham Barrow, following Warren Joyce’s minor operation – are the league’s lowest scorers and it showed.

The hosts were on the front foot in the first minute, when Liam Feeney’s curling shot just outside, forced Matt Gilks into a low save.

Wigan’s first attempt came midway through the half when an awful Sam Gallagher pass was intercepted by Jacobs, who raced half the length of the pitch, before firing just wide of Jason Steele’s right post.

Emnes wriggled free at the other end, but saw his shot well blocked, as Blackburn warmed to their task.

But, it was Wigan who came closest to breaking the deadlock, when Sam Morsy’s effort took a huge deflection which wrong-footed Steele, but the ball trickled wide.

Blackburn got the crucial breakthrough in the 59th minute. Emnes cut inside from the left and his fierce shot flew past Gilks.

The Latics looked out of ideas, though a well-worked corner in the 71st minute found Connolly 12 yards out, but he blazed over. Ewood erupted at the final whistle, as Blackburn secured a vital win for their survival hopes.