The afternoon started with a minute's silence in the memory of the great George Best, who passed away on Friday.
For Martin Jol it was a landmark occasion, his 50th game in charge, and Spurs were looking to end a run of four matches without a win in the first ever meeting between the two sides.
The Dutchman named an unchanged starting line-up from last week, but made positional changes in midfield, with Teemu Tainio switching flanks, Jermaine Jenas out on the right, and Edgar Davids in a more central berth alongside Michael Carrick - the tactic being, most likely, that the combative Davids would be more naturally suited to thwarting the energetic enthusiasm of the high-flying newly promoted side.
Meanwhile, Paul Jewell had the luxury of a fully-fit squad available and opted to make a surprise change to the side beaten by Arsenal in last week's five-goal thriller - a result that ended a run of six straight Premiership wins.
Experienced keeper John Filan, who was criticised over the first of the Gunners' goals, got a vote of confidence during the week but he was still left out, dropped for the first time since joining Wigan from Blackburn four years ago.
It meant another chance for ex-Rotherham keeper Mike Pollitt, who was in the side at the start of the season when Filan, 35, was recovering from a hernia operation.
Wigan were quick out of the traps, forcing two early corners and almost cashing in on a disastrous clearance by keeper Robinson.
It went straight to midfield general Jimmy Bullard, who sent Jason Roberts racing in on goal. But Spurs skipper Ledley King was quick to spot the danger, and got back to spare the England keeper further embarrassment.
Republic of Ireland international Graham Kavanagh fired just wide from long range as Wigan kept up the momentum.
But manager Jol's decision to stick with Irish star Keane up front was justified as Spurs grabbed the lead after seven minutes. Teemu Tainio provided a deep ball which de Zeeuw inexplicably failed to cut out. It gave Keane a chance he gratefully snapped up, rounding Pollitt before sliding the ball into an empty net in front of the Spurs fans behind the goal.
Typically the Latics went in search of an equaliser with McCulloch heading just over from a Bullard corner after Roberts again threatened down the right.
Mido and Keane were looking tricky in attack though and a couple of clever combinations didn't quite come off. It required a timely tackle from Wigan right-back Pascal Chimbonda to deny Mido.
Kavanagh let fly with another fierce left-foot strike but again failed to hit the target, while goalscorer Keane was proving a handful for the Wigan defence at the other end but there was little work for the goalkeeper at either end as the game simmered nicely towards half-time.
Keane demanded a penalty when he appeared to be manhandled by Stephane Henchoz, but referee Mr Riley waved aside his claims for a penalty. Wigan continued to press but the lead was protected into the interval, thanks in no small part to the excellence of skipper King.
The first third of the second half was a scrappy period with possession not retained by either team for any significant length of time. It was a frantic affair that, from our point of view, that a bit like last week just needed another goal to take the sting out of it.
Spurs were agonisingly close to snatching a second on 64 minutes when a Carrick free-kick found Finnish star Tainio unamrked and he lashed in a shot from the left, but Pollitt came up with a diving save to keep it out.
Jewell signalled Wigan's intentions to make a fight of it when he sent on Irish forward David Connolly for midfielder Damien Francis and left three up front.
But it left the Latics vulnerable to the counter attack and it led to Spurs' second, following a period of sustained Wigan pressure.
As the defence backed off Davids was architect and executioner after a long clearance had been fielded by Keane, who was somewhat fortunate to find the Dutchman in support. Davids surged forward - decoy runs were made to beat Pollitt with a drive into the far corner on 77 minutes – his first goal for Spurs.
Two minutes from time Wigan gave themselves some late hope when Henri Camara's shot was parried away by Robinson, but only to the feet of McCulloch who had the simple job of tapping into an empty net. Four minutes of stoppage time had to be played before Spurs could start celebrating.