Gary Caldwell admitted the 2-1 Sky Bet Championship victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in his first home game as boss was a 'big win' for Wigan Athletic.
The Latics kept alive their slim chances of avoiding relegation to Sky Bet League 1 - and smashed an eight-month run without a home win - with a narrow triumph thanks to goals from debutant Tim Chow and James Perch.Dale Stephens had equalised for a Brighton side who are still not mathematically safe themselves with three matches to play.
Wigan are now five points adrift of fourth-bottom Rotherham United with two matches to go.
"All we can do is win our games, and I've said that since day one," said Caldwell. "That's all we can do.
"This was a big win, because it was the first at home for so long, and to get this will be great for confidence.
"We'll focus on next week against Wolves, train well and make sure we're ready for that challenge."
Caldwell was frustrated that Wigan were unable to build on Chow's early goal, but felt they were good value for the win.
"We've said all along that goals are so important in football matches," the Latics chief added.
"We got one today and didn't really manage to capitalise on it.
"We came out sloppy for the second half instead of forcing the game, and we invited pressure.
"When you've not won for so long at home, the confidence perhaps isn't there to keep playing, you try and protect what you've got.
"They get their goal and all credit to them for that, but we went 4-2-4 at the end and tried to be as attacking as we could.
"The second goal was all about desire and eagerness to get a goal, and I thought our play overall deserved that."