Just seven days after shooting down promotion chasing Crewe, Peterborough super sub Leon McKenzie repeated the feat to slow runaway leaders Wigan’s rush towards the first division.
Sidelined for the first half of the season and still to start a second division game, McKenzie came off the bench to find the net for the third successive match, giving John Filan no chance with a powerful 70th minute shot after Mathew Gill provided the vital pass.
McKenzie had been on the pitch less than five minutes when he opened the scoring and he brought a fine save from goalkeeper Filan after opening up the Latics defence again.
Yet the former Crystal Palace man went as quickly as he came, replaced by another Posh substitute David Farrell with eight minutes remaining after suffering a hamstring pull.
By then Wigan were back on terms thanks to an 81st minute own goal by Posh defender Mark Arber who was powerless to stop defender Nicky Eden's tricky low cross from glancing off his boot and looping over Mark Tyler and in to the net.
Returning after being sidelined in mid-November with a broken wrist, Tyler kept Wigan out with a string of early saves including a header from ex-Posh man Jimmy Bullard who also grazed the crossbar.
Bullard, a cut-price January buy, commented: "I had mixed feelings about leaving Posh but believe they can stay in Division Two. As for Wigan, I am confident we are going places.†Wigan boss Paul Jewell kept top scorer Nigel Ellington on the bench until well in to the second half and even then it was Gary Teale who was closest to breaking the deadlock producing a fine header that Tyler plucked one handed from beneath the bar.
Barry Fry was delighted with his sides showing, commenting: "We paid Wigan too much respect in the first half but then went at them and improved our attacking display and were only denied a win by a wicked deflection.â€