Reading claim much-needed point

But both teams will view this as a missed opportunity - especially after other results meant that it is very much 'as you were' in the relegation struggle.

Wigan boss Steve Bruce, needing a victory to ensure top-flight football next season, made just a single change to his line-up with Jason Koumas starting and he looked the best player on the pitch.

Koumas was involved in the seventh minute when Marcus Bent headed his corner against a post, before Wigan threatened again with Wilson Palacios sending a wickedly curling shot just wide.

Reading, by contrast, struggled to overcome their nerves in the opening exchanges.

With less than 25 minutes gone, Bruce was forced into a change, with skipper Mario Melchiot limping off and Ryan Taylor coming on.

Koumas continued to look the only person with the craft to open up the opposing side and his dangerous cross was headed out only as far as Palacios, who thumped a volley wide.

The second half began at a completely different tempo, with Marcus Hahnemann first tipping over Michael Brown's rising drive and then Emile Heskey sending a powerful header wide from the resulting corner.

Reading also appeared energised by the break and Liam Rosenior claimed his header at the far post had been handled before Wigan cleared.

With 15 minutes left, Taylor pulled off a tremendous block to prevent Kitson opening the scoring. The Reading marksman then proved decisive at the other end to deny Wigan after Paul Scharner had almost bundled Taylor's corner across the line.