Nervous match meant Latics are still not mathematically safe after 0-0 draw with Reading

The point steers Latics ever so closer to a fourth consecutive season of Barclays Premier League football but Steve Bruce must wait until next weekend before Latics have another chance to confirm it.

In the post match press conference, Bruce said, "We started off well but I think what people saw were two anxious and nervous teams fighting for their lives.

"I think the occasion and magnitude of the situation stifled what sort of game of football it could have been.

"It was very tense but who knows it might be the point that keeps us up, but we are close that is sure.

"It might have been different had we taken our chances when we were at our best in the first twenty minutes, but I think a draw was a fair result."

Emile Heskey was injured in last week's draw with Tottenham but Bruce admitted that the striker was not 100% fit even though he also made the starting eleven against the Royals.

Bruce continued, "Emile [Heskey] did well to start after the knocks he had last week and I think that took some of the edge of us as well."

But there were further injury problems when the gaffer conceded that captain Mario Melchiot looks set to miss the final two games after he was substituted in the first half.

"Melchiot has had a scan but he is out for the season even though it is a small abductor muscle problem."

Although Latics are still not guaranteed top flight football next term, Bruce said that the situation is still very much in the clubs' own hands.

"There are five other teams who need to win and it is still in our hands and we will concentrate on Aston Villa and hopefully we will get a point.

"The league table is as you were with two games to play but we can finally but the situation to bed if the teams below us don't win."

Wigan World subscribers can watch the whole of the post match interview with Steve Bruce on Wigan World.