Latics triumph in eight-goal thriller

Bent and Roque Santa Cruz both completed hat-tricks in a match which saw Wigan run riot in the first half through early goals from Denny Landzaat and Bent, but moments after Paul Scharner headed in number three, the home side lost Emile Heskey to what appeared a serious injury and simply fell apart.

Santa Cruz pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time and completed his hat-trick just past the hour mark, moments after team-mate Brett Emerton was sent off for a second bookable offence and Wigan eventually made the extra man tell, Bent completing his own treble.

Wigan deservedly went ahead in the 10th minute when Landzaat raced through unchallenged onto Heskey's flick before beating Brad Friedel low to his left for his second goal in a week.

Two minutes later and more shocking defending saw Bent completely out-muscle Ryan Nelsen, leaving him on the deck before firing across Friedel and into the net.

Benni McCarthy missed a penalty for Blackburn after 22 minutes, before Scharner ran in unchallenged to power home a header and make it 3-0.

Santa Cruz then pulled a goal back in first-half stoppage-time and he made it 3-2 five minutes after the break with a close-range volley.

Wigan's task became easier in the 57th minute when Emerton was shown his second yellow card for scything down Ryan Taylor.

Santa Cruz completed his first Rovers hat-trick by nodding in Stephen Warnock's left-wing cross.

There was no let-up, Bent putting the home side back in front in the 66th minute when he stole in to head home Antonio Valencia's cross and with less than 10 minutes remaining, Bent completed his own treble to end Rovers' resistance.