James McFadden's controversial penalty gave Birmingham a 1-0 win and lifted them to the 40-point mark in the Barclays Premier League this season and piled on the relegation worries for Wigan at St Andrew's.
Former Blues defender Mario Melchiot appeared to make no contact with winger Keith Fahey in first half injury-time but a penalty was awarded and McFadden converted the spot-kick.
It means the Latics have now gone seven league games without a win but City can now look forward with confidence to another top flight campaign after being written off by pundits and bookmakers as relegation certainties in August.
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