Just weeks after looking to have played his last game for the club, the Frenchman sparked a second-half revival that he capped with the winning goal injury time.

Wigan had trailed since the 23rd minute at the DW Stadium when Keith Treacy drilled home a low free-kick from the edge of the area for the npower Championship visitors.

It could have got worse as Paul Coutts twice hit the woodwork but the Barclays Premier League side recovered and finally got back into the game when Jordi Gomez struck on 87 minutes.

Extra-time then loomed but dangerous substitute N'Zogbia, reinvigorated after a move to Birmingham collapsed over personal terms last month, broke from deep, played a one-two with James McCarthy and blasted the winner.

"It is quite clear the talent Charles has got," said Latics boss Roberto Martinez.

"The way he has acted since the window has closed has been an example for everyone.

"He has talent and many would pay money to watch him play football.

"More importantly he worked for the team extremely hard and, with his build-up towards the game, his day today has been sensational."

Preston boss Darren Ferguson claimed his team should have resorted to dirty tricks to stop N'Zogbia.

Ferguson would have had no qualms had midfielder Danny Mayor crudely taken down the Wigan winger in full flow.

Ferguson said: "The second goal was so naive it was incredible.

"All Danny has got to do is bring the lad down. We can see what is going to go on and as soon as he didn't do that, they were in.

"Both goals were stoppable. Individual mistakes cost us the game.

"I couldn't really see a way of them getting through and they huffed and puffed.

"Obviously they had one or two opportunities but they were two awful goals for us to lose.

"Andy's [goalkeeper Andy Lonergan] been done at the near post and Danny Mayor, he has got to foul the lad, take a booking for the team."

Martinez had already been angered by some of Preston's tackles, not least one by Jon Parkin that left Hendry Thomas with a gashed shin.

The Spaniard was more diplomatic after the game, however, and said: "It is part of the Carling Cup and you are not going to take it away from the game.

"In a way it shows the passion and the desire but it is a little bit of a gamble because referees can punish it with the red card."