Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta scored a second-half double as Wigan Athletic suffered a club record-equalling seventh successive league defeat, the Toffees winning 2-0 at the JJB Stadium.
Former Everton penalty-taker David Unsworth gave away the spot-kick that led to Arteta's 65th minute opener.
Then, in the first of five minutes of injury-time due to Andy Johnson apparently suffering a broken ankle, the Spanish midfielder took his tally to six for the season with a simple sidefoot finish.
It is now eight successive defeats overall for manager Paul Jewell who can again consider himself unfortunate that his side came away from a game with nothing to show for their efforts.
Another defeat at Reading on January 30, however, and Jewell's side will set a new club mark of eight straight league losses that would surpass the unwanted milestone set 14 years ago.
It is also six home defeats on the bounce for Wigan who at least produced their most convincing first-half display for two months.
It certainly was not pretty, although a heavy pitch, the odd hail storm and biting cold all played their part in an often untidy, scrappy affair.
But against a team pushing for a top-six finish and with it a UEFA Cup spot for next season, Jewell could not have asked for too much more from his confidence-hit players.
There were times when the 43-year-old's frustration was apparent as passes failed to find their intended targets, allowing Everton off the hook as they looked to build on their greater possession.
The Latics' best opportunity arrived in the seventh minute, with Emile Heskey feeding Antonio Valencia on the overlap inside the area.
But the first touch was poor from the Ecuador winger, back after six weeks out with a hamstring injury, and he eventually drilled a drive into the side-netting.
With Everton failing to gain a foothold in the game a succession of half-chances followed for Wigan, albeit without testing Tim Howard.
Too often the final ball in and around the area was lacking but at least Jewell was able to build on a rare air of positivity at the interval following so much doom and gloom.
Josip Skoko and captain Leighton Baines both screwed efforts wide when well placed outside the area, while Lee McCulloch curled one opportunity into the grateful arms of Howard from 18 yards.
Despite handing in a transfer request on Friday amid interest from Rangers, Jewell offered McCulloch the opportunity to prove himself still a Wigan player in front of the home fans.
The Scotland international certainly did not disappointment as he at least showed he remains committed to the Latics cause
By the break Wigan had managed to keep only their second clean sheet in six Premiership games after the opening 45 minutes.
That was mainly due to a more sturdy defensive performance from the back four in front of Chris Kirkland, who only had one save to make, and that an easy take from a low shot from Tim Cahill.
But then the tone of the game changed early in the second half as Everton found their rhythm, initially with Joseph Yobo heading a yard wide from a corner to the far post from Arteta.
Then came the moment that may cost Everton the services of Johnson for the remainder of the season as he was brought crashing down by a sliding challenge from Kirkland as he chased a long ball with Unsworth.
As he lay prone on the ground in agony the loose ball eventually fell to Simon Davies, who unleashed a rasping drive that Kirkland tipped over the bar.
It was apparent Johnson was in trouble and after a few minutes' treatment he was eventually carried off to the dressing room with his left leg immobilised, and on to hospital.
That led to the introduction of Victor Anichebe on the hour, who was then felled by former Toffees star Unsworth, resulting in Arteta rifling the penalty into the roof of the net.
Skoko then rattled the crossbar seven minutes from time but it was Everton who finished the stronger, with Arteta side-footing home a cross from Phil Neville inside the six-yard box in the first of five minutes injury time.
There was still time for Howard to make a point-blank save from a downward header by former Everton winger Kevin Kilbane, but it was too little too late for the Latics.
