Two more wins will clinch Wigan's promotion to Nationwide Division One after this 15th away success of the season but in truth, they are probably already up.
Two divisions will almost certainly separate these sides next season after Nathan Ellington and Andy Liddell took their combined tally to 37 goals for the season.
Northampton have not scored against Wigan now in the clubs last five meetings, and they hardly needed the setback of conceding a bad defensive goal inside nine minutes and then a highly dubious penalty before the break.
They have five matches left to somehow turn the corner but coach Mark Kearney admitted: "The pressure is on. It's intense and we have to do something that we haven't done all season but we are still in there fighting." Latics boss Paul Jewell said: "I thought we thoroughly deserved the victory. We were solid and restricted them to very few chances." Referring to the night's controversial moment, Paul Reid's apparent trip on Neil Roberts three minutes before the break, he said: "I thought it was a penalty but we are not top of the league because we have had luck from referees all season." Liddell typified Wigan's assured performance by starring out on the left and his confidence was such that in stepping up to score the penalty he threw a cheeky dummy before beating Lee Harper.
Ellington's 21st goal of the season was a clinical close-range drive after a mix-up in the home defence which made Kearney remark: "That was disappointing because we had chances to clear." The Cobblers could have reduced the arrears after the break when a sweet drive from teenage striker Steve Morison flew wide while Tom Youngs also had chances on his home debut.
Wigan were rarely out of second gear after the break but Harper had to make a smart save from Roberts' flashing drive.