Bore draw keeps Wigan and Reading in relegation mix

Wigan and Reading fought out a predictably tense and dour match here on Saturday in a 0-0 draw that kept both sides embroiled in the relegation battle.

Wigan are on the brink of ensuring they have a fourth successive season in the Premiership as they stand on 37 points with two matches remaining while Reading are just one place above the relegation zone on 33 points.

Wigan had made the early running with Marcus Bent going agonisingly close to opening the score in the eighth minute as he headed against the bar from inside the penalty area with Reading's American goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann well beaten.

Bent's team-mate Wilson Palacios then had a go a couple of minutes later as he rifled a shot at the Reading goal but it drifted wide.

Reading appeared to awaken from their slumber and their apparent unawareness of their dire situation by at least getting two shots at goal through Irish international striker Kevin Doyle, but both were wide of the mark.

The second-half hardly got any better with Reading's Leroy Lita firing high over the bar and Wigan went very close to sealing the invaluable three points as substitute Marlon King put in a fierce effort only for Hahnemann to pull off a brilliant save.