Wigan assistant manager Graham Barrow said the 1-0 victory against Cardiff was for sacked former boss and ex-Newcastle defender Gary Caldwell.
An 86th-minute strike from former Swansea midfielder Jordi Gomez was enough to give the Latics their first away win of the season.
Caldwell, who guided the club back to the Sky Bet Championship last season, was dismissed on Tuesday after a four-game winless run, with the team second from bottom.
Barrow, development squad manager Peter Atherton and first-team coach Joe Parkinson have taken charge of the team, while the search for a permanent boss continues.
Barrow revealed the players were "hurting" following Caldwell's departure.
He said: "It's been a tough week, especially for the staff. I think they did hurt when Gary left the club. The win is a relief for the football club because we need to win.
"I think it was a good thing we had two days to prepare for the game - we came down last night and were together. If it was a home game, it might have been even more difficult to get them right.
"By the time they went onto the pitch, they were determined to do it for him (Caldwell) and the football club."