Promotion hopefuls West Brom recorded a valuable victory over 10-man Wigan with a Thomas Gaardsoe effort seconds from time proving decisive.

The Latics had taken the lead through Andy Liddell on 73 minutes after Bernt Haas handled in the area, only for Lee Hughes to restore parity just four minutes later after being brought down in the area by John Filan, who was then shown the red card for a professional foul.

The home side then threw everything at the Wigan rearguard who defended resolutely only to crack eight seconds from the end of normal time when Gaardsoe fired home after good work from Hughes.

Wigan had gone into the game on the back of a roasting from their manager Paul Jewell after a poor performance at Bradford last weekend but were the first side to threaten, with Liddell forcing a corner off Darren Moore, while Jimmy Bullard was denied by a smart tip-over by Russell Hoult from the resulting set-piece.

Wigan's Jason Jarrett received a yellow card in the 11th minute for a bad foul on Paul Robinson, with team-mate Roberts following him into the referee's notebook eight minutes later for bringing down home captain Sean Gregan, who required lengthy treatment before continuing.

West Brom striker Hughes then tried his luck twice in the space of a minute, forcing Filan into a decent save and then missing the target with a second shot, before Nathan Ellington headed a Liddell cross onto the roof of the net with Hoult well beaten.

Hughes again shot wide without worrying Filan eight minutes before the break, before Wigan came very close to taking the lead through the dangerous Roberts.

The Welshman was fouled by Gregan just outside the area and, after being teed up by Bullard, Roberts saw his goal-bound volley cleared off the line by Gaardsoe.

Filan then made a decent save to deny Neil Clement, with Jason Koumas again providing the opening, in the last meaningful act of an end-to-end opening period.

Hughes headed over from a Koumas cross seconds after the restart as the home side started out on top, with Koumas forcing Filan into a fine save following a 20-yard drive.

Ian Breckin cleared the next West Brom attack, a cross from Delroy Facey, who headed the resulting corner just over the bar to the relief of Filan.

The game was then turned on its head with the award of two penalties within the space of four minutes in the last quarter of the game.

The first was converted after 72 minutes by Liddell although it was cancelled out when Filan sent Hughes tumbling four minutes later, the referee again pointing to spot with Filan being shown the red card and Hughes converting.

Substitute goalkeeper Gary Walsh got his hand to the ball but could not keep Hughes' penalty out, with Gaardsoe going on to net the winner just seconds from time.

Teams

West Brom Hoult, Haas, Moore, Gaardsoe, Robinson, Koumas (Kinsella 67), Johnson, Gregan (Dyer 52), Clement, Hughes, Horsfield (Facey 45).

Subs Not Used: Murphy, Hulse.

Goals: Hughes 77 pen, Gaardsoe 90.

Wigan Filan, Eaden, De Vos, Breckin, Baines, Liddell (Flynn 84), Jarrett, Bullard, McCulloch, Neil Roberts (Walsh 76), Ellington.

Subs Not Used: Mitchell, Jackson, Farrelly.

Sent Off: Filan (75).

Booked: Jarrett, Neil Roberts, Ellington, McCulloch, Baines.

Goals: Liddell 73 pen.

Att: 26,215

Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).