Slacko Jacko rues dropped points while Jol hails 'one hell of a game'

But the Wigan central defender wore the look of a man who knew he had betrayed his team-mates when he was substituted towards the end of this absorbing encounter at the JJB Stadium.

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Paul Jewell's team were good value for their 3-2 lead midway through the second period and edging towards a victory that would have gone a long way to securing another season in the Premiership.

But Jackson was caught like a rabbit in the headlights as a punt from Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson dropped from the blue sky and over his shoulder in the 68th minute.

It was an inexplicable error and one that Robbie Keane was happy to exploit as he ran clear to expertly lift the equaliser over John Filan and into the corner of the net.

Such mistakes can turn seasons and one can only hope that Jackson and his manager are not bemoaning an afternoon of missed opportunities when the final reckoning comes next month.

It will be of no consolation to Jackson that he was not the only villain of this piece. Wigan led three times and really should have won.

That they did not was due in part to the technical excellence of Martin Jol's Tottenham side. Keane and Jermaine Jenas were particularly impressive yesterday.

But it was also due to Wigan's failure to concentrate at key moments as leads that should have been cherished and defended were lost on the back of individual mistakes and collective irresponsibility.

It is a point the ever-honest Jewell was happy to concede.

Wigan's manager said: "Jacko is distraught. You won't come across a better professional than him and he is just about the best man you could ever wish to manage.

"But he knows he has had a bad day today — and particularly that he should have done better for the last goal. But we win together and lose and draw together at this club and I shall not be lambasting him here.

"He was not the only one, anyway. We have been in the lead three times and have not won and some of our defending was disappointing.

"But in the cold light of day we have got a point. And at the end of the day, it could be the point that keeps us up."

A hot afternoon and a whiff of a relegation battle perhaps suggested this might be a scrappy, nervy affair. Far from that.

Both teams played open and engaging football and could have scored a good many more goals than they did. It is afternoons like this that make one wonder how football can ever be boring.

Emile Heskey began the scoring within two minutes of the kick-off as the Wigan striker finished off a game of ping-pong in the Tottenham penalty area by heading the ball in from six yards.

The perfect start for Wigan, it nevertheless failed to give them the first-half superiority for which they no doubt hoped. Within two minutes Tottenham's Dimitar Berbatov had equalised after drifting past three players — and the game was on.

Given Wigan's poor recent run, this could have knocked the stuffing out of them but it didn't.

Leighton Baines lashed a superlative effort past Robinson from the angle of the penalty box — another goal of the season contender from the full back — on the half-hour and Wigan would have led at the break had it not been for another error.

The home defence seemed to switch off completely as Jenas broke down the left five minutes later and after the England midfielder was pushed by Baines and fell — a little theatrically — under the challenge of Filan, Keane tucked away the penalty.

It really had developed into a super game and it continued in the second period. Kevin Kilbane escaped the attention of Pascal Chimbonda to head Wigan back in front from a corner in the 60th minute before Jackson's mistake handed Keane the opportunity to level again.

There was still time for Paul Scharner to trouble Robinson from fully 40 yards, while Filan denied Chimbonda a winner that fans of his former club would have found very difficult to swallow.

Ultimately, the home supporters were happy as they headed to the car parks. Their destiny is still in their team's own hands.

Spurs boss Jol said: "It was a hell of a game and I am sure it was great for the neutrals.

"I am sure it is not what we wanted after four games in 10 days, but when you are behind three times you cannot complain with a point."

WIGAN RUN-IN

Saturday - LIVERPOOL (a)

April 28 - WEST HAM (h)

May 5 - MIDDLESBROUGH (h)

May 13 - SHEFF UTD (a)