Wigan Athletic 2-1 Blackpool: Curtis Tilt earns Latics late win
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Curtis Tilt made 99 league appearances for Blackpool before leaving for Rotherham in 2020
Curtis Tilt ended Wigan's poor run and condemned 10-man former club Blackpool to a place in the Championship's bottom three with a late headed winner.
The defender struck with two minutes of normal time left to end a stiff rearguard action from the Seasiders, who played the last 73 minutes a player short following the dismissal of Marvin Ekpiteta.
The Blackpool defender was deemed to have been the last man between Charlie Wyke and his own goal when he fouled the Latics striker, and was shown a straight red card by referee Andy Davies.
The Seasiders defied the odds to take the lead before half-time as Charlie Patino picked out Gary Madine in the box, and the striker chested the ball down, held off Jack Whatmough and fired a shot into the top corner.
Referee Davies was forced off at half-time, to be replaced by fourth official Anthony Backhouse, and Wigan stepped up their pressure on a resolute Blackpool defence after the break.
The home side levelled in the 54th minute as James McClean swung in a corner which Wyke attacked, with the ball apparently going straight in.
Wigan threw everything at the Seasiders but just when it seemed Michael Appleton's side might hold out for a much-needed point after suffering defeats in their three previous games, Tilt scored the winner.
Tendayi Darikwa crossed into the box after Blackpool had only half-cleared a corner, and Tilt, who spent two-and-a-half seasons at Bloomfield Road, headed home.
That ended a dismal run of six defeats and a draw which had brought Leam Richardson's reign at the DW Stadium to a close, but both clubs remain in the bottom three.
Wigan interim manager Rob Kelly said:
"It was a relief for everyone to get the win. It was an important three points for everybody. I thought they responded really well (to going behind), certainly after half-time.
"The longer it went on, we knew we would get a couple of chances and that's what happened.
"I've got to say the fans have always been fantastic since I've been here.
"Even at home, they've been patient and understanding of where we are and what we are trying to do.
"I thought they (the fans) were really good in the second half, and they have been since we have been here."
Blackpool manager Michael Appleton told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"It was cruel. It's been the story for the last couple of months, where what could go wrong, has gone wrong and it's made life very difficult, no doubt about it.
"I thought we were really comfortable in the game, 17 minutes in. We hadn't scored at that point but I do believe it was a matter of time, with the pace we had in wide areas and on the transition Jerry (Yates), Shane (Lavery) and Gaz (Madine) looked really lively.
"Then the sending-off happened and the game changes. We gave ourselves a lifeline with a fantastic goal, but it makes it really, really difficult.
"He (Ekpiteta) has given the referee an opportunity to make a decision. Whether Callum (Connolly) or Rhys (Williams) would have recovered or whether Chris (Maxwell) would have been able to get the ball, he hesitated and in that moment it gave the ref the opportunity to make that decision."