Benik Afobe's goal midway through the first half has given Wolverhampton Wanderers the lead at the break and left Wigan Athletic teetering on the edge of Championship relegation.
However, the hosts were on top for much of the first half, starting when James McClean raised pulses early by skipping his way around two Wolves defenders and firing an effort into the side-netting.
His partner on the opposite wing, Jermaine Pennant, then went one step closer when he capitalised on Jack Price's mistake and drove towards goal, unleashing a shot that was tipped onto the bar by Tomasz Kuszczak.
However, it was the away side that took the lead on 25 minutes when Afobe fired home at the back post from an in-swinging Bakary Sako free kick.
McClean then teed up Emmerson Boyce, who curled an effort narrowly over the bar from the edge of the box just before the break, leaving Wigan with it all to do in the second half.
