Flanked by Johnny Russell and Will Hughes, Eric Steele jigged over to the travelling Derby supporters - the popular goalkeeping coach was in the mood to celebrate. After a first win in eight, they are back in this consuming promotion race and that six-week wobble is no longer. Steele lapped up the adulation, entertaining 4,000 behind one goal of the DW Stadium at which the Rams wrapped up three crucial points. This felt very important indeed, the outpouring of each olé obvious. Derby's players celebrate after Chris Martin's goal gave them the lead in the second half . Steve McClaren was all smiles as he took his place in the stands before the game . Wigan (4-4-2): Al Habsi; Boyce (McCann 63), Maguire, Pearce, Bong; Bo-kyung, Kvist, Perch McClean; Clarke (Waghorn 75), Fortune (Murphy 65). Subs not used: Carson, Pennant, Barnett, Ojo. Booked: Boyce, Clarke . Derby (4-2-3-1): Grant; Keogh, Forsyth, Albentosa, Warnock (Christie 88); Hughes, Hendrick, Ward (Martin 46), Russell, Ince (Dawkins 90); Bent. Subs not used: Roos, Lingard, Whitbread, Hanson. Goals: Martin 51, Bent 81. Booked: Hughes, Hendrick. Referee: S. Hooper. Attendance: 14,697. Make no mistake, these have been tough times for Steve McClaren. Top of the tree back on February 24, the Derby manager is now only looking at promotion via the play-offs, labelling an automatic spot a ‘long shot’. Their ticket for those extra games is by no means booked, but goals from substitute Chris Martin and Darren Bent mean they are back on track. Martin climbed off the bench at half-time to change the game, slamming in the opener six minutes after the restart before Bent capitalised on shambolic defending to prod in a late second. ‘I didn’t think Chris would make the impact that he did,’ McClaren admitted after Martin’s first appearance in almost two months. ‘He could only play 45 minutes. ‘It’s a massive win. Huge character. We showed the quality we’ve been missing. The away following was absolutely incredible. We’ve stuck together.’ Wigan, by contrast, are staring at relegation and a first season in the third tier since 2003. Now eight points adrift, their fans chanted for the head of Malky Mackay. Chairman David Sharpe didn’t know where to look at full-time and they need two wins from trips to Fulham and Millwall - on Friday and next Tuesday respectively - to stand any chance of survival. Derby goalkeeper Lee Grant does well to tip over a header from a Wigan corner . Derby winger Tom Ince has a low effort saved by Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi . Jeff Hendrick rides a challenge from South Korea international Kim Bo-kyung . ‘It’s still mathematically possible and we need to keep giving it everything we’ve got,’ Mackay said. ‘It was criminal to miss those chances but that has haunted the club all season. ‘I thought we were terrific first half - 17 crosses into their box. That should bring a return of two goals.’ It did not, and Mackay’s use of ‘mathematical’ tends to suggest the writing is on the wall. James McClean and Kim Bo-kyung both went close but Wigan ran out of steam, their fans streaming out after Bent’s 81st-minute clincher. Kim shifted the ball to his left foot and found James McClean, storming towards the six-yard box but the winger’s bullet header was met in stature by Lee Grant’s splendid one-handed stop, tipping over while airborne. Tom Ince had the beating of his man inside the box, but could only fluff right-footed straight at Ali Al Habsi. Maguire almost put through his own net from a Jamie Ward corner but those two moments were all McClaren’s side could muster before the break, finding the quagmire of a playing surface at the DW Stadium quite a deterrent. This had been used for the Warriors’ win against St Helens in their Rugby League encounter on Good Friday, and you could tell; a tame Kim drive bobbled three times to test Grant when otherwise it would not have. But, frankly, that is the least of Wigan’s worries. They face an almighty task to escape relegation, made all the harder when Martin linked up with Russell to score. ‘The difference with him and without him shows you what a top striker can do,’ Mackay rued. Chris Martin celebrates after giving Derby the lead in the crucial promotion clash . Grant saves at the feet of Leon Clarke as relegation-threatened Wigan press for a second-half equaliser . It’s 20 for the season now and how they have missed the Scotland international’s presence. He came on with purpose, knocked the normally immovable Maguire from pillar to post and gave the Rams a focus. Ince just poked over the bar after super build-up involving Martin and Bent, before the on-loan Aston Villa striker wrapped up the points after 81 minutes. Bent comes alive in the 18-yard box and reacted quickest to Jason Pearce’s terrible mix-up to add a second. Wigan did have their chances. McClean was smothered brilliantly by Grant as the Ireland international looked to equalise; William Kvist then saw a half-volley superbly blocked by Hughes. They displayed guts, but not an awful lot of quality, and a first season below the top two divisions since 2003 looks to be the legacy created by Dave Whelan in controversially appointing Mackay. ‘We want Malky out,’ was the summation of 10,000 home fans. Five wins since taking over in November suggests they are right. Substitute Darren Bent puts the result beyond doubt by finishing from close range . Derby heroes Bent and Martin celebrate after the former scored their second of the game .
Derby had failed to win any of their previous seven games . Goals from Chris Martin and Darren Bent lift them up to fifth . Wigan now eight points from safety with just five games left .