Dean Ashton struck a hat-trick at the JJB Stadium to deliver a hammer blow to 10-man Wigan who had fought back from two goals down after having Jason De Vos sent off.

Crewe striker Ashton slammed home a 20-yard volley from an acute angle to stun Paul Jewell's side who went in at the break level thanks to Lee McCulloch's first-half brace.

Crewe striker Ashton fired Dario Gradi's side ahead from the spot in the 20th minute and repeated the feat six minutes later after Wigan defender De Vos was dismissed for his professional foul on Steve Jones.

Wigan shrugged off their disadvantage to play some stirring football but ran out of steam before Ashton snatched the points with his 14th goal of the season to end Crewe's six-match run without a win.

Jewell's high-flyers tore into Crewe early on with fast-improving Jimmy Bullard orchestrating alongside central midfield partner Jason Jarrett.

Andy Liddell, enjoying an extended run for the Latics while Gary Teale nurses a broken collarbone, drilled a shot in on goal in the second minute.

Jarrett sent a 25-yarder whistling wide and Nathan Ellington - First Division player of the month for February - also let fly from distance, while crosses rained in on Crewe keeper Clayton Ince.

Crewe mustered one attempt on goal in the opening exchanges, Jones firing wide from the edge of the penalty area.

But then it all went horribly wrong for Wigan. In only their second foray forward Crewe won a penalty when Ian Breckin brought down Ashton in the penalty area.

The Crewe striker dusted himself down before sending John Filan the wrong way to notch his 12th goal of the season.

Six minutes later Ashton - who missed a recent spot kick in the home defeat to Sheffield United - slammed home penalty number two, this time into the opposite corner following De Vos's clumsy lunge on Jones.

Canadian international De Vos was dismissed by referee Alan Kaye for his trouble and after dominating the first 25 minutes Wigan found themselves 2-0 down and reduced to 10 men.

But the home side responded in brilliant fashion. Jewell reshuffled his pack, sending on Matt Jackson for left-back Leighton Baines and within four minutes McCulloch, in for the suspended Jason Roberts, drilled home a left-footer beyond Ince following a scramble in the box.

Four minutes after that Jewell's side were level, man-of-the-moment McCulloch glancing home a header from Bullard's free-kick on the left.

Wigan burst out of the blocks after the restart with McCulloch close to completing his hat-trick when he headed over from Jarrett's cross, while Ellington's goalbound shot was blocked by Crewe defender Steve Foster.

Mahon and Liddell were finding space out wide as Wigan continued to dominate, but Crewe slowly clawed their way back into the match and at last made their extra man tell in the closing stages.

Ellington had squandered several chances for Wigan, while Jones had an appeal for a third penalty turned down before Ashton's late knockout blow.

Teams

Wigan Filan, Eaden, Breckin, De Vos, Baines (Jackson 27), Liddell, Jarrett (Mitchell 65), Bullard, Mahon, McCulloch, Ellington (Neil Roberts 87).

Subs Not Used: Walsh, Flynn.

Sent Off: De Vos (26).

Booked: Jarrett, Filan, Eaden.

Goals: McCulloch 30, 36.

Crewe Ince, Billy Jones, Foster, Walker, Wright (Tonkin 10), Lunt, Sorvel, Cochrane, Hignett, Ashton, Steve Jones.

Subs Not Used: Vaughan, Robinson, Tomlinson, Higdon.

Booked: Walker.

Goals: Ashton 20 pen, 26 pen, 90.

Att: 8,367

Ref: A Kaye (W Yorkshire).