Blackburn Rovers took a giant stride towards Barclays Premier League survival at Ewood Park yesterday courtesy of goals from Benni McCarthy and Ryan Nelsen as Sam Allardyce got the better of Steve Bruce, his close friend and rival.

Allardyce paid a visit to Hell’s Kitchen, run by Marco Pierre White, in midweek, but his real appetite has always been reserved for saving Blackburn from relegation. Desperate times call for desperate measures and the manager, knowing his side lacked a genuine attacking threat because of the absence of Roque Santa Cruz and Jason Roberts, both injured, opted to use Christopher Samba, the defender, in an advanced role alongside McCarthy.

While Samba may lack the prowess of Fernando Torres or Cristiano Ronaldo, the Congo international is undoubtedly a handful and Allardyce’s bold decision proved justified. Just ask Wigan Athletic’s centre backs, Titus Bramble and Paul Scharner.

Samba caused mayhem in the visiting defence from the outset as Blackburn went in search of an early breakthrough to settle home nerves. Having survived Antonio Valencia’s third-minute strike against Paul Robinson’s crossbar, Blackburn took the game to Wigan in a manner that reflected their greater need for points.

In the tenth minute Vince Grella’s cross was wasted by Samba and McCarthy before the former saw his close-range shot deflected wide less than a minute later. From the resulting corner Chris Kirkland was on hand again to block McCarthy’s header. When Stephen Warnock and Samba failed by inches to connect with Morten Gamst Pedersen’s drilled ball across the face of goal it seemed that Blackburn were destined for one of those frustrating afternoons. The likelihood only appeared to be enhanced when Lee Cattermole, returning from a four-game suspension for Wigan, cleared El-Hadji Diouf’s header off his own line in the 24th minute.

Wigan were content to hit Blackburn on the break and Charles N’Zogbia and Cattermole went close to finding a breakthrough before the interval as Bruce’s side threatened sporadically. Blackburn got the goal they richly deserved on the brink of half-time, however, when Kirkland made a bad fist of trying to punch clear Pedersen’s corner and allowed McCarthy to get the vital touch with the back of his head for his second goal in three games.

Allardyce was indebted to Robinson when he produced a fine, instinctive save to block Ben Watson’s angled drive in the 57th minute, not least because just moments later the home side doubled their advantage when Nelsen rose highest to meet McCarthy’s sharp free kick and put the result beyond reasonable doubt.

There was still time for Wigan to launch an assault on Robinson’s goal but the spurned England goalkeeper was in imperious form. He produced a stunning double save to deny Emmerson Boyce and Valencia before David Dunn, a substitute, headed Scharner’s effort off his own line.

With spirit such as this it is difficult to understand why Blackburn have struggled for so long and Allardyce said: “You can’t turn down an invitation from someone like Marco Pierre White, can you? He’s an inspiration to everyone and I’ve got to relax like anyone else. We’ve done a job and done it well. I think we need one more win but it’s been a great show of character and fantastic effort.”

Bruce had few complaints. “We knew what to expect," he said. "People may mock it but Samba was a real handful. It’s not the prettiest to watch but he’s done his job because he’s so difficult to play against.”

Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2): P Robinson 8 - A Ooijer 7, R Nelsen 8, G Givet 7, S Warnock 6 - E-H Diouf 6, Tugay Kerimoglu 6, V Grella 7, M G Pedersen 7 - B McCarthy 8, C Samba 8. Substitutes: D Dunn 7 (for Tugay, 64min), K Andrews (for Grella, 77), C Villanueva (for McCarthy, 82). Not used: M Bunn, M Olsson, A Doran, Z Khizanishvili. Next: Man City (a).

Wigan Athletic (4-4-2): C Kirkland 6 - E Boyce 7, T Bramble 7, P Scharner 7, M Figueroa 6 - A Valencia 8, L Cattermole 6, B Watson 6, C N’Zogbia 7 - H Rodallega 5, Mido 5. Substitutes: A Zaki 6 (for Mido, 46min), D de Ridder (for Watson, 77), O Kapo (for Figueroa, 77). Not used: M Pollitt, E Edman, M Brown, J Koumas. Next: Bolton (h).