Wigan fire past Newcastle to keep Premier League survival bid alive

Shaun Moloney wants his Wigan side to keep pushing for the win that will secure their Premier League status, after he helped fire the Latics past Champions League-chasing Newcastle.

Roberto Martinez’s men look set to pull off the ultimate escape act as they’ve now taken an incredible 15 points from a possible 21 - that remarkable run including wins against Manchester United and Arsenal.

The victory over the Magpies at the DW Stadium moved Wigan three points clear of the relegation zone with only two games remaining.

And although Maloney will be praying for Tottenham to beat Blackburn and Chelsea to triumph over QPR today, he knows another performance like yesterday’s will see his club extend their stay in England’s top-flight to eight years.

“There’s two tough games to come and there’s obviously matches to come down there [today] so by no means are we going to rest on our laurels now,” said Maloney (pictured), who notched his side’s third following a quick-fire brace from Victor Moses.

“We’ve got to win one more game before we’re probably safe.

“It’s the work-rate,” he added of Wigan’s amazing turnaround. “In the past few months the work-rate, starting from the front players, has stepped up a few notches and we make it a lot harder for teams to play against us.”

Elsewhere, Bolton could manage only a 2-2 draw at Sunderland despite taking an early lead through Kevin Davies, Nicklas Bendtner levelling nine minutes before half-time before James McClean put the hosts ahead at the Stadium of Light.

But Davies struck again in the 70th minute to gain a crucial point for Bolton, who sit 18th, level on points with QPR, although with a far inferior goal difference.