Goals: Defoe 32', 90'

Jermain Defoe made it eight goals in seven games as Portsmouth beat Wigan 2-0 to leave Steve Bruce's side hovering nervously above the relegation zone.

Pompey meanwhile are on the verge of their best ever finish in the Premier League after Defoe's double left them just two points adrift of their previous best points tally with six games left to play.

Portsmouth were without key players a week before their FA Cup semi-final against West Bromwich, including suspended Papa Bouba Diop and Sulley Muntari and the injured Lassana Diarra.

Wigan's resources were stretched by the absence of suspended Michael Brown and injured duo Jason Koumas and Wilson Palacios and it was the visitors who came under pressure first.

Chris Kirkland had to produce a smart save to keep out a ferocious shot from Pompey defender Hermann Hreidarsson from just 15 yards out and Croatian midfielder Niko Kranjcar then shaved the goalkeeper's left-hand post with a swerving freekick.

Defoe fired another good chance high before Wigan squandered a great opportunity to take the lead.

Played in by Marcus Bent, Antonio Valencia beat David James with his shot only to see Glen Johnson hook the ball onto the bar.

The rebound fell to Valencia but his follow-up shot was deflected wide.

Pompey finally claimed the lead in the 33rd minute, Defoe tapping in at the near post after John Utaka's cross had taken a deflection that bamboozled Kirkland.

Another Kranjcar strike forced Kirkland to make another full-stretch save as Portsmouth continued to dominate before the break.

Wigan were offering little in attack but they nevertheless earned a chance to get themselves back into the contest when Sylvain Distin pulled down Valencia in the area just after the hour mark.

James however demonstrated why he is currently regarded as England's number one by saving the spot-kick from Ryan Taylor and the midfielder could only blast the rebound over the bar.

That was effectively game over but there was still time for Kranjcar to deliver a superb through ball for Defoe to beat Kirkland with an assured finish from the edge of the area in the 90th minute.