Bruce says Latics produced a fantastic performance after 0-0 draw.

Latics took a share of the spoils at the City of Manchester Stadium although Wilson Palacios will be disappointed he missed an opportunity with nine minutes remaining to earn the club all three points against Sven Goran Eriksson's men.

Despite the missed chance, Bruce took a positive slant and said, "Well I hope it is the point we need that keeps us afloat.

"For me we were the better team and all week we have been saying if we can keep it tight and frustrate them especially with the result they had in mid week [City lost 2-0 at home to Everton], then we thought we could maybe pick them off.

"We had the opportunities to do it in the last twenty minutes to do that but unfortunately we didn't take the chances but overall it was a fantastic display."

The gaffer admitted he has had to focus on tightening the defence since his arrival in December and says the goalless draw is proof the hard work is paying off.

Bruce continued, "I think this team has the threat of a goal but the big problem that we needed to do was to stop conceding. We have worked a lot on the discipline and the shape of the team and thankfully for the moment it is starting to bear fruit."

The result kept Latics in 14th position in the Barclays Premier League, and are two points from the mid-table positions, but Latics are just as close to the relegation zone after Birmingham and Reading both won their games today.

Bruce said, "There are only two points between ourselves and twelfth position so anything is capable of happening and there is still a long way to go. If anything it was difficult for us today."

Wigan World subscribers can listen to the whole of the post match interview with Steve Bruce on Wigan World soon.