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Ben Watson's 84th minute strike gave Wigan a deserved 1-0 Premier League victory over Hull City at the JJB Stadium.

A frustrating encounter looked to be heading towards a goalless draw, before the midfielder pounced with a precise finish after a long throw caused havoc in the Hull box.

The first half had no lack of endeavour, particularly from the home side, who surged forward with Charles N'Zogbia and Hugo Rodallega from either flank, but was notably lacking a clinical finish, with Mido the primary culprit.

The Latics came close as early as the third minute, Maynor Figueroa drifted a hopeful long ball to the back post, which looped over Matt Duke and struck the crossbar.

Watson then had a glorious chance for the hosts, as N'Zogbia continued his lightning start with a superbly whipped ball across the six-yard box, but the midfielder couldn't make a meaningful contact with Duke squirming to collect.

Midway through the half, Mido squandered two good opportunities, firstly skying his shot after a terrific Wigan break, with Paul Scharner and Rodallega heavily involved in a slick build-up down the right wing.

The Egyptian striker then volleyed over the bar from close range after a good knock-down by Scharner from N'Zogbia's cross on the half-hour mark.

Steve Bruce's side continued to press forward, and the powerful Rodallega streaked through on goal and shot forcefully across Duke, but the keeper prevented the ball from finding the far corner of his goal with a solid palm away just before half-time.

Mario Melchiot, undeterred by an injury sustained a minute earlier, raced down the right wing and delivered a superb cross which Rodallega really should have converted in stoppage time, but Duke was again smartly off his line to save.

The second half was equally devoid of quality in the final third from both sides, but again Wigan looked the more likely to break the deadlock.

N'Zogbia, having been the most inventive and incisive player on the pitch, was an enforced change for Bruce at half-time having sustained an injury late on in the first period, leaving Rodallega the most potent outlet on the right.

But Hull did have one decent opportunity to score, with Chris Kirkland making a point-blank save from Manucho's bullet header after Dean Marney had whipped in a corner from the left after 51 minutes.

Watson came close after being put through by Kevin Kilbane, but Duke was out of his goal sharply once more to block the midfielder's attempted toe-poke from close-range on the hour mark.

In one of three quick substitutions, Bruce swapped one Egyptian striker for another, with Amr Zaki replacing Mido in the 72nd minute to try to reinvigorate an increasingly blunt forward line.

Wigan were left cursing their luck again as Rodallega hit the post with a header in the 80th minute, before Duke saved from Olivier Kapo, and Zaki was adjudged to have handled the ball when about to shoot from close range.

But finally the stalemate was broken four minutes later, as Wigan won a throw in deep inside the Hull half, and piled bodies inside the penalty area expectantly.

Melchiot's long throw caused chaos in the Hull box, leaving Duke stranded out of his goal, but the strike which beat him was precise; Watson, with the outside of his boot found the top corner to send Bruce dancing around the touchline in glee: it was the former Crystal Palace midfielder's second goal in successive games.

Wigan's win moves them into seventh spot - the final European place - while Hull are placed precariously, four points outside the relegation zone.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport