Stalemate means Latics are still not mathematically safe from relegation

Latics are still not mathematically safe from relegation after a goalless draw against struggling Reading, although with a five point cushion with two games to play, it is still very much in our own hands.

Wigan were very much the better side in the first half, but the visitors rallied in the second period before it ended in frustration for both sides as the battle to stave off relegation continues for a little while longer thanks to some heroic saves from Reading shot stopper Marcus Hahnemann.

Bruce made just once change since last weekend, with Jason Koumas starting on the left flank whilst Ryan Taylor had to settle for a place on the bench. However, the latter didn't have to wait long to get some action as captain Mario Melchiot was substituted after sustaining a groin injury after 26 minutes.

The visitors meanwhile started with three strikers on the field Leroy Lita was recalled from his loan spell at Charlton and started alongside both Dave Kitson and Kevin Doyle.

Latics kicked off and applied the pressure almost immediately and they came close to opening the scoring after just seven minutes when Antonio Valencia released Emile Heskey with a well timed long pass, and eventually forced the Royals into conceding the corner. Koumas took the set piece, and it was Bent who connected to the ball, heading it straight against the near post.

Prior to that Koumas went on a superb run from Wigan's own half when Reading lost possession. The Welsh international raced towards the penalty area but blasted the ball into the stands when he was twenty yards out.

In the 8th minute Wilson Palacios did well when he beat his marker Leroy Rosenior, and the Honduran cut inside but his shot too went over.

After the half hour mark, Heskey and Bent combined well when the former lobbed the ball brilliantly to his striker partner, but Hahnemann was alert and managed to collect the airborne ball before Bent was ready to apply the finishing touch.

Latics came out determined for the second half when Michael Brown's driven shot from 25-yards forced the Reading goalkeeper into a brilliant fingertip save, and then Heskey headed over from Taylor's resulting corner.

The ever so solid Paul Scharner set up Heskey superbly just after the hour as he chested the ball before launching it over the Royal's defence, whilst the hard working Palacios also tested with a 30-yard drive but neither really troubled Reading's American goalkeeper.

Brown again tried to get his first goal for the club with a stinging shot in the 68th minute but it was severely deflected by a Reading player, but even then it almost caught out Hahnemann who managed the claw the ball away from danger.

Substitute Marlon King, who had earlier replaced Heskey, had a great chance to consolidate Wigan's top flight position in stoppage time as he latched onto a Palacios pass but once again it took a stunning fingertip save from Hahnemann save to keep the scores goalless.

Taylor took the corner and the rebound fell to Brown who fiercely struck the ball but it was blocked by Rosenior before referee Martin Atkinson blew up for full time.

But the Royals had their chances too, and their best opportunities came in the second half. In the 57th minutes, Lita managed to beat Emmerson Boyce at the near post before sending the ball across the face of goal from an acute angle, and thankfully it just rolled past the other post too.

Kirkland also had to be at his best too in the 72nd minute when he made a close range save from Michael Duberry from a Nicky Shorey corner.

There was also a scare for Latics as early as the 12th minute though as Shorey's left-footed free-kick went through the hands of Kirkland, but thankfully the ball went wide of the post too.

The match started well for Latics but it was a nervy ending for both teams, and the scoreline probably reflected that.

LATICS: Kirkland; Melchiot (c) (Taylor 26), Boyce, Scharner, Kilbane; Valencia, Brown, Palacios, Koumas; Heskey (King 73), Bent (Sibierski 65).

SUBS: Pollitt, Skoko.

BOOKINGS: Taylor, Kilbane.

READING: Hahnemann; Rosenior, Duberry, Ingimarsson (c), Shorey; Bikey, Harper, Hunt; Lita (Long 86), Kitson, Doyle (Little 70).

SUBS: Federici, Cisse, Matejovsky.

BOOKINGS: Shorey, Hunt, Bikey, Duberry.

REFEREE: Martin Atkinson.

ATTENDANCE: 19,043