Wigan Athletic boss Malky Mackay is confident that he has some "real warriors" to call upon as the Latics look to claw their way out of the relegation zone.

Mackay's side earned a much-needed 1-0 win away to Reading in a victory that saw them move six points adrift of safety in the Championship.

Jason Pearce struck the only goal of the game on 17 minutes, and the Scottish manager hopes that the result reinvigorates his troops for the rest of the season.

"It was a thoroughly deserved win against a very good team," he told Sky Sports News. "To win and to win the way we did, I was really delighted.

"I'm now looking at some real warriors there now. The gap has closed and there's still a lot of points to play for. That group of players certainly don't look as though they're down and out.

"There's a lot of teams who are in different veins of form but we're fighting for every point and that's what we need to keep doing."

Wigan, who sit 23rd in the table, host Charlton Athletic at the DW Stadium on Friday night.