Chris Kirkland and Ryan Taylor are both delighted but admit job is still not complete.

Wigan's goalkeeper helped Latics keep their fifth clean sheet in consecutive home games to give the club an important 2-0 win over Birmingham City.

Kirkland admitted that a lot was riding on he result, "It was a massive game, we knew it could be the defining game of the season and all the lads are delighted but we must stay focused and with five games to go we have to make sure we apply ourselves as we did today.

"We started off well and we were tremendous and I thought we thoroughly deserved the win."

Birmingham skipper Damien Johnson was sent off in the first half after a two footed tackle on Kevin Kilbane, and although the Wigan left-back was not hurt Kirkland said he agreed with referee Mike Dean's decision.

"I thought it was a sending off. After what has happened in recent weeks I don't think he stood a chance of staying on and I think it helped us."

Although Ryan Taylor netted the second goal of his brace early in the second half, the England goalkeeper said the squad took nothing for granted.

"We scored at the perfect time but even at 2-0 we were a bit nervous in case they got a goal back, but we were professional and defended brilliantly."

Meanwhile goal hero Taylor revealed that after two defeats on the road at Blackburn and Portsmouth that he thought the win could not have come at a better time.

The former Tranmere man said "Crucial goals make good results and we didn't set out to play pretty it was just to get a result. We went out buzzing and we were a different team to how we have been in the past couple of weeks.

"We have not played that well in recent weeks but playing away is just not the same as playing here but we knew we had to win today and we did.

Taylor converted Antonio Valencia's cross in the first half and ten minutes after the restart the winger struck again after he scrambled away a rebound by Birmingham goalkeeper Maik Taylor.

"I didn't hit the first very cleanly but I was pleased it went in and for the second goal I am not normally in the position but I was pleased to have that too. I was never too fussed about getting a hat-trick just a win was enough for me."

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