Wigan moved back to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship table with a hard earned victory over bottom club Rotherham at the JJB Stadium.
But Latics boss Paul Jewell had cause for complaint as his Premiership hopefuls made heavy weather of disposing of a poor Rotherham outfit that appear to be fighting a losing battle against relegation.
They had little to offer except honest endeavour and when the home side took a deserved lead through Jason Roberts after only 11 minutes it seemed like the flood gates would open.
Roberts struck his eighth goal of the season to equal the tally of his strike partner Nathan Ellington, who provided the inch-perfect cross.
But the home side failed to build on their lead, although Rotherham, who couldn't muster a single shot on target in the first half, had keeper Mike Pollitt to thank for producing super saves from Roberts and David Graham.
The pattern continued after the break before Wigan sealed victory with their second goal, a close range effort from midfielder Alan Mahon after Roberts had created the opening.
Pollitt was in action again to deny Jimmy Bullard, while at the other end there was a rare moment of action for keeper John Filan when he saved well from substitute Will Hoskins.