Wolves 3 Wigan 1

Wolves claimed a vital win over relegation rivals Wigan to ease the pressure on manager Mick McCarthy.

Jamie O'Hara, David Edwards and Stephen Ward moved Wolves clear of the Premier League drop zone and into 13th place, before Fulham's game with Tottenham.

Ben Watson had levelled for the Latics, tapping in after goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey saved his penalty.

Hugo Rodallega's shocking miss let Wolves off the hook before O'Hara's opener but, despite goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi heroics for Wigan, the visitors are rooted to the foot of the Premier League.

And Wigan could be in further trouble with the FA after TV replays showed defender Antolin Alcaraz spitting at Wolves defender Richard Stearman in the second-half.

Wolves were unchanged from their gutsy 3-1 defeat at Premier League leaders Manchester City, while Wigan recalled Steve Gohouri and Franco Di Santo after a 2-0 loss to Fulham last time out.

The hosts took the game to their visitors, as Edwards' third minute drive was palmed behind by Al Habsi after Kevin Doyle unsettled the Wigan backline.

Two minutes later and they should have had a penalty, when Stephen Hunt broke through and was clipped by Al Habsi but the Irishman just stumbled, rather than going to ground, and Wigan survived.

But, from the resulting corner, the Latics escaped again when Di Santo's handball from Roger Johnson's header went unpunished.

It was a busy start by Wolves and the lively Edwards glanced a header wide on 17 minutes, after more good work from Doyle.

Nerves were still a problem for the hosts though and Wigan grew when they failed to find an early goal.

Victor Moses was crowded out after latching onto Richard Stearman's poor pass, before Rodallega shot straight at Hennessey on 22 minutes.

The Columbian should have fired the visitors ahead on the half hour when Di Santo robbed Stearman and found the striker with a brilliant ball over the Wolves defence.

Rodallega had just Hennessey to beat but stroked his six-yard shot wide and, a minute later, was made to pay.

Wolves immediately broke and when Doyle skipped past Maynor Figueroa on the right to cross for O'Hara, who slammed the ball past Al Habsi from seven yards.

The lead was a slender one though and Molineux continued to be a nervy place when Wolves didn't have the ball.

Wigan capitalised when they were awarded a penalty after Hunt barged Emmerson Boyce over in the box on 41 minutes.

Hennessey saved Watson's poor spot kick with his legs, but was helpless to stop the midfielder knocking in the rebound for 1-1.

Wolves tried to respond and Al Habsi spilled efforts from O'Hara and Hunt, before McCarthy replaced the ineffective Adlene Guedioura with Matt Jarvis at the break.

The change gave the hosts much-needed impetus as they moved into a two goal lead.

Victor Moses and Di Santo had earlier gone close before Wolves restored their advantage on 55 minutes.

Karl Henry's determined run and cross from the left found Hunt – who was denied by a splendid save from Al Habsi.

The goalkeeper then, somehow, kept out O'Hara's follow up but was powerless to stop Edwards smashing in at the third time of asking.

And 11 minutes later it was 3-1 when Jarvis burst down the left, Hunt was thwarted by Al Habsi again and Ward gobbled up the rebound.

It gave Wolves breathing space and only Al Habsi's reaction denied Christophe Berra a fourth – the goalkeeper turning the defender's six-yard header over.

Hennessey tipped over Connor Sammon's volley with nine minutes remaining, as Wigan rallied and the substitute then fired inches wide.

Mohamed Diame should have made it 3-2 with three minutes left when he screwed wide from seven yards, as Wolves took the points.