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Manchester City - David Silva took advantage of a terrible error by Wigan keeper Ali Al-Habsi to give Manchester City a hard-fought 1-0 at Eastlands on Saturday.
City may have all the money in the world but they struggled throughout this contest as Roberto Martinez's side played the more expansive and attractive football.
The win reduces the gap between City and second-placed Arsenal down to four points, but City manager Roberto Mancini cut a frustrated figure as relegation-haunted Wigan were only beaten thanks to a huge stroke of luck.
Silva's 38th minute effort was poor but Al-Habsi let the ball squirm from his grasp and that proved to be enough.
City's preparations for this encounter were hindered by the announcement on Thursday that defender Kolo Toure has been suspended indefinitely after failing a drugs test.
Reports in the UK suggest that his urine sample failed after the Ivorian took one of his wife's dietary pills and the player is currently awaiting the results of a secondary sample before officials decide what sanctions to take.
On the field, life has been just as testing for Mancini's side in recent times as they had won just one of their last five league games.
Wigan's recent record is even worse as they came into the game on the back of just one win in 10 encounters.
Mario Balotelli had the first opportunity after just four minutes as he struck a long shot from distance which Al-Habsi almost misjudged but managed to steer around a post.
City were fortunate to remain with 11 players as Micah Richards lunged in on Tom Cleverley with a terribly late tackle but referee Stuart Attwell only brandished a yellow card.
After 23 minutes, Carlos Tevez came close to unlocking Wigan's defence as he skipped past Ben Watson and Maynor Figueroa but pushed his shot wide of the far post.
It remained tight and Wigan rarely created much although a dreadful error by Vincent Kompany gifted James McCarthy the perfect opportunity to score just six yards out but he blazed over when he should have at least hit the target.
However, a far wore mistake followed soon after when Al-Habsi allowed Silva to open the scoring.
Silva hit a tame shot straight at the Wigan goalkeeper but it somehow slipped from his grasp and between his legs to gift City the lead.
After the interval, Wigan were the brighter side and Antolin Alcaraz was unfortunate to see his volley hit the upright before bouncing to safety.
McCarthy then had his second chance of the game as he drilled a low effort goalward but City keeper Joe Hart was alert enough to superbly block the effort.
City grew increasingly frustrated in the second half and Mancini completely lost his temper on the sidelines, throwing his gloves to the floor after his defence ignored his request for them to play higher up the field to try and stop the Latics from attacking.
Wigan substitute Charles N'Zgobia offered more zip and creativity to Wigan's play down the right wing.
And Wigan's ambitions were almost rewarded in a frantic ending as both Hugo Rodallega and Conor Sammon went desperately close to grabbing a deserved point for the visitors.
Rodallega opted to sidefoot rather than blast an effort that Hart managed to save before Sammon's 93rd minute effort drifted just wide of the far post as City grimly hung on.
