WIGAN, England (AFP) - Wigan earned a lifeline in their fight for Premier League survival as goals from Paul Scharner and Antonio Valencia clinched a 2-0 win over Derby on Saturday.

Steve Bruce's side had to wait until the 60th minute to break the deadlock at the JJB Stadium when Scharner tapped in before Valencia struck in the closing moments.

It was a defeat that ruined Derby manager Paul Jewell's return to the club he quit in May after six years in charge.

Derby have gone a club record 21 league matches without a win and are almost certain to drop into the Championship after this defeat against one of their relegation rivals.

Jewell's side were first to threaten as Hossam Ghaly teed up Stephen Pearson just inside the area, only for the midfielder to strike the ball straight at Chris Kirkland.

Wigan responded when Mario Melchiot delivered a perfect inswinging cross to Kevin Kilbane, but the midfielder headed straight at Roy Carroll who gathered the ball at the second attempt.

Melchiot was at the centre of the half's most controversial incident as the Latics felt they should have gone in front.

Emile Heskey hooked a shot goalwards and Melchoit's back-heel appeared to cross the line before being hacked away by Giles Barnes.

Replays showed the whole of the ball had crossed the line but the officials waved play on.

The hosts could have licked their wounds after that but instead they surged forward again.

Michael Brown teed up Heskey with a low cross from the left wing, but his strike lacked venom and was easily held by Roy Carroll.

Derby arrived without a win on their travels this season. They had only scored five times in their 13 away games and it was easy to see why.

The Rams offered no threat at all and fell behind on the hour mark when Scharner scored his fifth goal of the season.

Carroll could have done no more to keep Wigan out with a fine double save to palm out Heskey's header and then tip away the striker's rebound. But the ball rebounded to Scharner and he hooked home from close range.

Melchiot was close to making it two in the 80th minute as his header from a Kilbane corner flashed wide.

But Valencia sealed Wigan's second successive home win with a driven shot into the roof of the net in the 84th minute.