The Latics made a storming start to the game and went ahead on three minutes when Craig Cathcart gifted possession to Charles N’Zogbia and then slipped at the decisive moment to allow Hugo Rodallega to meet the through-ball and fire home.
The visitors then doubled their advantage in added time at the end of the first half as Mohamed Diame robbed Charlie Adam of the ball and fed N’Zogbia to slot past Matt Gilks from a tight angle.
A tame header from Elliot Grandin was all the hosts could muster before Diame’s shot on goal took a wicked deflection off Neal Eardley to wrong-foot Gilks and make it three.
DJ Campbell pulled one back seven minutes from time to give Blackpool a glimmer of hope, but once Ali Al Habsi saved well from Matt Phillips the points were heading back to the DW Stadium, leaving the Seasiders in the dreaded drop zone for the first time this season.