Aden Flint’s late goal hauled Bristol City out of the Championship relegation places following a 1-0 victory away to fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Flint secured a vital three points for Lee Johnson’s side in the 88th minute when he bundled home from a Lee Tomlin corner that the hosts failed to clear.

In a tightly-fought contest played out under the gloomy skies of Greater Manchester, both sides had their chances, with Tammy Abraham and Matty Taylor going close for the visitors.

Wigan responded as David Perkins crashed a shot off the crossbar, while Omar Bogle and Gabriel Obertan forced saves out of Robins goalkeeper Frank Fielding.

In the closing stages of the opening half, Wigan were grateful to their own shot-stopper Matt Gilks, who was quick off his line to prevent Abraham, after the Chelsea loanee had been threaded through by Tomlin’s neat pass.

As the teams returned for the second-half, the West Country outfit went close through Tomlin, who connected with Abraham’s flick on, prior to curling a right-footed shot behind.

On the hour, Bogle used his strength to hold off challenges down the left-flank, before advancing into the area, where he unleashed a powerful drive that was denied by Fielding’s sprawling stop.

As the clock ticked down, and clear-cut chances were at a premium, City ramped up the pressure on Wigan’s fragile goal. Abraham and substitute Callum O’Dowda went close, so too did Josh Brownhill, who missed a guilt edged chance in the final 10 minutes, when he dragged an attempt wide.

However, their persistence was soon rewarded late on. Tomlin’s corner from the left dropped to Aaron Wilbraham, both he and Abraham could not convert, with the ball falling to defender Flint, who diverted a scrambled shot beyond a helpless Gilks from a matter of yards.

Wigan pushed for an equaliser in the five minutes of additional time, but they remain 23rd in the second-tier, four points adrift of safety, while City recorded just their third win in 23 league outings to climb out of the bottom three on goal difference.

So, here are THREE things Shoot! learned from Bristol City’s win over Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium…

Wigan’s woes continue

Saturday’s home defeat for the beleaguered Wigan side leaves them second-bottom of the Championship, with the gap to safety now standing at four points, the Latics will need an upturn in fortunes if they are to avoid an immediate return to League One.

Wigan’s last six outings have yielded the one solitary win, they also haven’t achieved maximum points at home since beating Brentford back in January.

A lack of goals has also proved a significant problem. In those previous six games, just two goals have been scored.

Wigan’s only real attacking option on Saturday came through the industrious Omar Bogle, who despite having chances, lacked reliable support from his team-mates.

The result also forced chairman David Sharpe to dismiss manager Warren Joyce (Above) on Monday, after a torrid run of form, which saw him pick up just five victories in 22 league games at the helm.

Bristol City’s unbeaten streak

It is safe to say that Bristol City, along with their manager Lee Johnson, have endured a turbulent time of it in recent months.

Indeed, Aden Flint’s (Pictured) scrappy late winner was only City’s third victory in 23 league games, in a week which also saw Johnson’s assistant, John Pemberton, dismissed from the Ashton Gate club.

City have been on a calamitous run of form that had seen them go from play-off contenders to relegation candidates.

The Robins have now gone three matches unbeaten, and their triumph at the DW Stadium lifted them out of the relegation places, leapfrogging Blackburn Rovers on goal difference.

The Championship relegation dogfight

Bristol City’s momentous three points away at their relegation rivals could well be a turning point for Johnson’s battlers, while Wigan are embroiled in the bottom three, with some difficult fixtures awaiting them during the end-of-season run-in.

While City hope to push on following a big win in the North West, the fight to stay in the division is now an intriguing one.

Wigan and Blackburn Rovers currently occupy two out of the three relegation places, along with rock-bottom Rotherham United. The Millers are 21 points from safety.

Other than Wigan, Blackburn and Bristol City, three other teams could still be in danger of the drop, with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Nottingham Forest and Burton Albion all looking over their shoulders.