Ross Stewart's third goal in as many games since returning from injury helped Sunderland move up to fourth with a victory against a Wigan Athletic side that slid to the bottom of the Championship.
Ellis Simms nodded the Black Cats ahead from a yard out after Trai Hume worked the ball back across goal from a corner that followed a stunning double save from Jamie Jones to deny Amad Diallo and Abdoullah Ba.
Wigan's James McClean hit the post in response before Diallo crashed a shot off the underside of crossbar as Sunderland pressed for a second before the break.