ROQUE Santa Cruz hit a stunning hat-trick but it wasn't enough as ten-man Rovers slumped to a 5-3 defeat at Wigan.
Rovers had previously never tasted defeat against the side from the JJB Stadium, but when Landzaat, Bent and Scharner gave Wigan a three-goal start that record was well on the way to being broken with Mark Hughes' side shellshocked.
But amazingly Rovers forced their way back into the game courtesy of Roque Santa Cruz. His thunderbolt from the edge of the area just before the break set the tone and when he tapped home five minutes after the restart the comeback was well and truly on. Then from Warnock's centre, the Paraguayan headed Rovers back on level terms to complete his hat-trick on the hour.
However the home side restored their lead when more calamitous defending saw Valencia cross for Bent to add his second though there was a hint of offside, although nowhere near as clear cut as Wigan's fifth.
The officials had an abysmal game, Brett Emerton had earlier saw red after an innocuous challenge on Ryan Taylor off the ball, but quite how Julius Aghahowa didn't follow down the tunnel for failing to retreat from a free-kick after he had already been booked beggared belief.
The salt was well and truly rubbed into the wounds when it was Aghahowa, perhaps as much as five yards offside, centred for Marcus Bent to complete his hat-trick with Rovers short of numbers. The fifth meant there was to be no way back for Rovers as Steve Bruce celebrated his first win in charge of Wigan Athletic.
Before the game Mark Hughes had made four changes from the side that had been defeated by West Ham United the previous week, with Andre Ooijer absent with a hamstring tear, captain Ryan Nelsen returned to take his place after serving a two-match ban. The other three changes all came in midfield where Steven Reid returned to make his first start for sixteen months, Savage for his first start in two months, whilst Bentley was back after his ban. Mokoena, Tugay and David Dunn all making way.
The game started at a fast and furious pace, with the home side taking the game to Rovers straight from the off. Ryan Taylor tested Brad Friedel with a 30 yard free-kick just three minutes in, moments later Rovers were relieved that Bent's mis-control in front of goal allowed the Rovers' number one the time to claim the lose ball in the area.
Rovers were ragged, struggling to get their passing play going, Roque Santa Cruz blazed over from twelve yards after a pinpoint cross from Bentley, but that attack was a rare foray into the Wigan half in an opening half to forget.
Samba picked up a yellow card for contesting a decision with the referee, it was his fifth of the season meaning he'll now miss next Sunday's match against Chelsea at Ewood Park.
The inevitable first goal arrived on ten minutes, Denny Landzaat played a quick one-two in midfield with Marcus Bent releasing the Dutch international to run through on goal, Friedel made himself as big as possible but Landzaat was able to steer the ball past the American and into the corner of the goal.
Rovers were at sixes and sevens and two minutes later the lead was doubled. Stephen Warnock struggled to get the ball under control on the edge of his own area and it allowed former Rovers striker Marcus Bent a chance to steal in and he took full advantage to fire low past Friedel from the right of goal.
There was very little flow to the game, Wigan snapping at the heels of the Rovers players at every opportunity, with referee Mark Clattenburg happy to try out his whistle as often as possible.
But it was from the whistle of Clattenburg that Rovers had a lifeline on 22 minutes. David Bentley's corner was flicked on at the near post by Christopher Samba, but with Emile Heskey holding down the giant defender, the referee pointed to the spot.
Benni McCarthy was given the responsibility of getting Rovers back into the game but Chris Kirkland, well off his line it has to be said, did well to tip McCarthy's scuffed effort round the post much to the delight of the home supporters.
Rovers thought they had weathered the onslaught but there was more to come before the break. Emile Heskey, who had proved to be a real handful for Christopher Samba, was pushed to the ground right on the edge of the area close to the touchline on 37 minutes.
Ryan Taylor, who's delivery from dead balls had been impressive throughout the first half, did so once again when he drilled the ball into the six yard box for Paul Scharner to find the back of the net with a downward header to leave Rovers shellshocked.
That happened to be Heskey's last involvement in the game as he was stretchered off the pitch moments later with what looked like a serious injury, no doubt the Rovers central defenders breathed a sigh of relief to see the England man depart.
Rovers then had claims for a second spot kick waved away, Morten Gamst Pedersen controlled the ball with his back to goal but as he turned his legs were taken from under him, Clattenburg was unmoved despite it looking more clear cut than the one that was given.
But right on half-time Rovers did get a goal, and it was a touch of class that had been sadly lacking for the previous forty-five minutes. Roque Santa Cruz collected the ball on the left corner of the area before smashing an unstoppable effort that left Kirkland grasping thin air as the ball nestled in the back of the net..
"Lets hang on to what we've got" was the tune played as the half came to an end. Get out there and perform was no doubt the message from the Rovers boss.
Whatever was said at the break had the desired effect just four minutes after the restart. Morten Gamst Pedersen's run through the centre of midfield was brought to a halt with a trip, but Rovers took the free-kick quickly shifting the ball out wide to Bentley, his cross skimmed the head of Reid and somehow arrived at the feet of Roque Santa Cruz and his cushioned effort beat Kirkland from three yards out.
This enthralling game then took a turn for the worse when Rovers were reduced to ten men after Emerton tangled with Taylor off the ball. The Wigan midfielder made a meal of the collision, flinging himself to the ground, the referee bought it and issued Emerton with his second yellow card of the afternoon followed by the inevitable red.
But unbelievably it was Rovers, who despite being a man down, grabbed a leveller just past the hour mark. David Bentley tricked his way through midfield, fed Stephen Warnock on the left, he curled the ball into the area and who was there but Roque Santa Cruz to head his and Rovers third.
But five minutes later and once again Rovers' defensive frailties came to the fore, unable to clear their lines from a corner kick, Warnock could only find a Wigan player with his ball upfield, it was quickly played back into the area to Valencia and he sent over the perfect cross for Marcus Bent to fire Wigan back in front from five yards out.
Rovers roared back and should have levelled once again, David Bentley sent over an inviting corner kick for Roque Santa Cruz, but this time he couldn't find the back of the net with his bullet header.
Controversy was never far away, Julius Aghahowa should have picked up his second yellow card of the game for failing to retreat when Bentley took a free-kick, instead the referee gave a throw to Rovers. That decision would come back and play a key role in Wigan's fifth goal as it was Aghahowa, easily five yards offside who crossed for Marcus Bent to grab a deserved hat-trick.
Despite the fifth goal Rovers didn't let their heads drop and continued to take the game to Wigan until the very end, Savage saw an effort blocked, Santa Cruz almost forced home the rebound, Bentley saw an effort saved.
Four additional minutes were added to the end, but unlike the previous ninety, it passed without any incident of note, except for the ninth booking of the match.
So an afternoon to forget for Rovers, terrible defending throughout allied with some poor refereeing decisions spelled defeat. The only bright spot on an otherwise miserable day for the Lancashire club was the tremendous hat-trick by Roque Santa Cruz, but as Rovers left the JJB Stadium defeated for the first time, it was very little consolation.
WIGAN: Kirkland, Taylor (sub Olembe 89 mins), Kilbane, Heskey (sub Aghahowa 40 mins (sub Granqvist 90 mins)), Brown, Landzaat, Valencia, Boyce, Scharner, Bramble, Bent.
Subs not used: Pollitt (GK), Koumas.
ROVERS: Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Pedersen, Savage, Reid, Bentley, McCarthy (sub Derbyshire 75 mins), Santa Cruz (sub Dunn 90 mins).
Subs not used: Brown (GK), Mokoena, Olsson.
Booked: Samba, Emerton, Warnock, Savage (Rovers), Heskey, Taylor, Aghahowa, Brown (Wigan Athletic)
Off: Emerton (Rovers)
Attendance: 16.489