They have won only once in 11 games and taken a solitary point from their last 10 away matches.

The Baggies' free-scoring attack was quickly into a familiar routine with Rodriguez nodding them into the lead. He headed the ball past goalkeeper Christian Walton from seven yards after the ball had been played to him by Dwight Gayle.

But the goal came at a cost for Albion as 13-goal leading scorer Gayle went down after crossing the ball with what appeared to be a knee problem and was immediately replaced by Hal Robson-Kanu.

Given Wigan's poor away form, it would have been easy for them to fold, but they quickly went in search of an equaliser and would have got one in the 14th minute but for goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who beat away Reece James's goal bound free-kick.

Despite that scare, Albion generally remained in the ascendancy and it needed the combined efforts of Wigan central defender Dan Burn and Walton to prevent them doubling their advantage.

Robson-Kanu was homing in on goal in the 19th minute but Burn challenged him as he was shooting and Walton completed the rescue act by tipping the ball around the post.

Walton was in action again 10 minutes later – this time pushing a shot from Harvey Barnes over the bar as Albion started to dominate proceedings.

Robson-Kanu then narrowly failed to convert a cross from Matt Phillips in the 50th minute as Albion began the second-half as they had ended the first.

Failing to take their chances threatened to cost them in the 65th minute when they failed to clear a free-kick and Albion were relieved to see Gavin Massey's shot fly just over the bar.

But West Brom's frustrations were eased when Rodriguez finally found a way past Walton who moments earlier had denied Robson-Kanu.

Rodriguez volleyed  home an unstoppable 20-yard volley after he had intercepted a clearance from Wigan's Cheyenne Dunkley.

Wigan's dismal day was then summed up in the 86th minute when Reece James slammed a 25 yard free-kick against the foot of the post.

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