Lee Evans and Michael Jacobs scored late goals as Wigan extended their unbeaten run to eight games and kept a clean sheet for a sixth successive match in beating Blackburn.

Substitute Evans blasted an 80th-minute effort in off the underside of the bar after Christian Walton had fumbled Antonee Robinson's cross under pressure from Kieffer Moore.

Jacobs hit Rovers on the counter attack as the visitors piled forward in stoppage time - the substitute running the length of the visitors' half before cutting in on his right foot to curl in low past Walton.

Blackburn's best effort came a minute after going behind 1-0 as Dominic Samuel's far-post header was tipped over by David Marshall.

The win - Wigan's fifth in six games - sees Paul Cook's side move further away from the relegation zone to 17th place and five points away from danger, while Rovers stay ninth, four points outside the play-off places.

The Latics have not conceded since 15 February, when Kal Naismith's 55th-minute own goal brought Cardiff City level in a 2-2 draw.

Since then Wigan have won five of their six games, taking the scalps of West Bromwich Albion, Reading, Huddersfield and Millwall.

The only blemish on Wigan's run was a goalless draw with struggling Luton Town in their final game before the Championship was halted by coronavirus.
Forgettable first 80 minutes

This was a fixture that was high on endeavour but lacking cutting-edge quality as Wigan kept faith with the side that won at Huddersfield on their return to action last weekend.

The Latics had two good efforts in the opening 10 minutes - Moore curling an effort just off target before Cedric Kipre headed wide from a corner.

Jamal Lowe should have scored with four minutes to go to half-time as he ran into the area, but he was smothered by Rovers' defence as the ball ran under his feet.

Blackburn's Stewart Downing - making his 701st career appearance - was the only player to test either keeper before the break as the former England winger's curling free-kick forced Marshall into a full-stretch save in the final minute of the half.

It was more of the same after the break as Sam Gallagher's forceful header at the far post went over the bar from Downing's floated ball.

Wigan replied almost instantly as Sam Morsy blasted a 30-yard swerving effort just wide of the post.

Tony Mowbray brought on Blackburn's top scorer Adam Armstrong and fellow forward Samuel with 25 minutes to go and the pair almost combined as the former's whipped low cross just evaded Samuel's outstretched leg.

But they could not find a way past Marshall as the Latics struck twice to become the form team in the second tier.