England striker Emile Heskey ended Wigan Athletic's miserable run of four defeats and left them singing in the rain with a late, late winner at drenched Fratton Park.

For new manager Tony Adams and his Pompey braves it was just plain wet winter misery.

Papa Bouba Diop gave away his second penalty in four days when he brought down Wigan's Titus Bramble for Amr Zaki, the prolific on-loan Egyptian ace, to fire the penalty past David James just seconds before half-time.

After a whole host of near misses substitute Niko Kranjcar appeared to have saved a point for the new manager with an 82nd-minute strike but Heskey pounced even later to snatch the points.

All appeared to be going well for Adams as Pompey recovered from a sluggish start and began firing shots at Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland.

Jermain Defoe's drive went just wide from a of a through ball by Glen Johnson, Peter Crouch's header came back off the top of the bar for Diop to hook just over and the big Senegalese - preferred in midfield to winter John Utaka - saw his own header cleared off the line by Wilson Palacios.

Diop dived in on Bramble with just seconds to go before half-time. And referee Peter Walton had no option but to point to the spot and Zaki thumped home with the confidence of a man who has already scored eight times for his new club this season.

Pompey hit the woodwork four times through Crouch (twice), Diop and Johnson but after Kranjcar's equaliser Heskey knocked in Cattermole's through ball two minutes into stoppage time.

Wigan were first into their stride, forcing Pompey to defend a Jason Koumas free-kick before Cattermole's fine cross from the right was headed inches wide by the lively Zaki after only two minutes with James struggling to get across his goal.

James had to come to Pompey's rescue when Bramble, following up an attack, drilled in a fierce drive which the keeper saved at the second attempt.

Defoe's presence panicked Emmerson Boyce into conceding a needless corner but Wigan easily cleared and when Johnson had Pompey's first shot after 13 minutes it was a tame effort straight into Kirkland's midriff.

Pompey were close to the lead three minutes later when Crouch's header from a Lassana Diarra corner landed on top of the bar, bounced back into play and Diop hooked it over.

They were gradually gaining control and went close again in the 22nd minute when Johnson, cutting inside from Diop's pass, played a perfect through ball in behind Bramble.

Defoe found the angle just too tight for his shot which zipped wide of Kirkland's left-hand post.

Diop's header looked a winner until Wilson Palacios, on the line, headed it up against the bar and out.

But big former Fulham midfielder paid the price for recklessness again when he sent Bramble sprawling and Zaki made no mistake just ahead of the half-time whistle.

Kranjcar, back from an ankle operation, almost equalised soon after coming on at the start of the second half when his free-kick was cleared off the line by Boyce.

Johnson's superb header came back off the bar and when Crouch, who had earlier glanced a header just wide, followed up Palacios repeated his amazing trick of deflecting the ball against the woodwork and away.

It looked a point apiece but then Pompey lost all their discipline at the back in the closing minutes and Antonio Valencia was twice foiled by James when clean through on the break before Heskey settled it.