Wigan 2
Scharner 60 Valencia 84
Derby 0
Wigan 2 Derby 0 February 23 2008
Wigan moved four points clear of the drop zone as goals from Paul Scharner and Antonio Valencia saw them beat Derby 2-0 at the JJB.
The Latics had all the play in the first half and came close to taking the lead through a Kevin Kilbane header that Roy Carroll saved well after 14 minutes, a Mario Melchiot back-heel that was cleared off the line by Giles Barnes, and an Emile Heskey shot straight at the keeper.
Stephen Pearson did have one opportunity for the Rams but they were struggled to get out of their own half at times and it came as little surprise when Scharner put the hosts in front 15 minutes after the interval.
Carroll made a final double save to keep out Heskey's header and follow-up but he could only look on as the loose ball feel for Scharner to hook home his fifth goal of the season from three yards.
It was then all one-way traffic again after that, with Wigan adding a second in the 84th minute as Valencia ended a 15-month wait for only his second goal for the club.
After being picked out by a raking pass from Wilson Palacios, the winger turned inside Jay McEveley before rifling an eight-yard left-foot drive into the roof of the net.