The England midfielder struck in the 90th minute to kill off Wigan and push Chelsea into second place in the Barclays Premier League.

Captain John Terry had put Chelsea in front in the 24th minute but Olivier Kapo stunned the Blues with an 81st-minute leveller.

Lampard's goal earned Hiddink his third successive win since he agreed to take charge of the side until the summer.

Chelsea's training ground work-rate under sacked boss Luiz Felipe Scolari had allegedly dipped below acceptable levels to the players and Hiddink put their fitness levels under the spotlight after they tired in the second-half of their Champions League win over Juventus in midweek.

But Lampard declared: "Guus has obviously made a positive difference to the team. He's come in within a short space of time to try make the difference.

"He's done it by just saying the simple things and getting us working hard on the training ground and tactically working hard to organise us a bit better. I have been very impressed and enjoyed working with him

"The players have reacted and we needed to do that. We must take responsibility and the players have worked harder in the last few weeks than maybe before. It is just a shame that we have let a gap open up at the top.

"My goal was important because it was frustrating to be 1-0 up for such a long time and have chances to go 2-0 and then let them back in the game.

"But credit to Wigan who worked very hard and started well. Once we got our first goal we dominated and we should have scored another one. But it was very important to get three points.

"Man United have still got a great gap and everyone knows that. But it is nice mentally to be back in second position and we need to try and keep winning games. You never know what can happen. We will wait and see."

Wigan boss Steve Bruce claimed referee Lee Probert cost them a point by failing to spot a push by Lampard on defender Mario Melchiot as he headed the winner.

But while Lampard admits there was slight contact, he believes Chelsea deserved a slice of luck.

"There was a bit of contact but whether it was a foul I don't know," added Lampard. "There were plenty of fouls in the middle of the park that went unnoticed as well. They were very aggressive and to be fair to them, they worked very hard.

"But sometimes you deserve a little bit of luck and we worked for it."

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Petr Cech insists Chelsea's dressing room spirit is unbreakable.

Cech kept Chelsea in the game in the first-half as he denied Paul Scharner and Maynor Figueroa.

The spirit at the club has been under the spotlight in recent weeks following the departure of Scolari.

But suggestions of a split inside the camp have been firmly rejected by the club and the players and Cech is adamant the spirit has always been solid.

"The players here have always had a great spirit in the dressing room and this is something you can't undermine," declared Cech.

"Actually I think this is why so many people stay here a long time and why this club has a lot of long-serving players. It tells a story which is that this club pulls everyone in the same direction."

Cech, like Lampard, signed a long-term contract in the summer that ties him to the club until 2013.

But incredibly, the Chelsea stopper, who recently surpassed 200 appearances for the Blues, is already thinking of his next one.

"I hope I can stay in the team for another 200 games," added Cech. "I've got a five-year contract so if I can carry on without any injuries, I could reach 400 games for Chelsea and I hope that's not my last contract here either."

Chelsea's victory over Wigan also saw Didier Drogba put in another rejuvenated performance under Hiddink.

The Ivorian was marginalised by Scolari but he is rapidly getting back to his best under the Dutchman. However, the striker insists the resurgence has come from within.

"He (Hiddink) is someone who puts a lot of expectations on himself and that's something he passes on to the players," revealed Drogba.

"He sets high goals because he knows we can achieve them. On Wednesday it was a Champions League game against a massive team (Juventus).

"In that situation you don't need to rely on the manager to motivate you. We know what we have to do.

"The season is still alive. Even though we are behind in the league, this is football and many things can still happen.

"We're still in the FA Cup, we're still in the Champions League so it is still a very interesting season for us."