Wigan Athletic are now without a win in eight league outings after allowing Steve Bruce's Birmingham City to twice come from behind and then snatch all three points in a game that was there for the taking.

The result leaves Chris Hutchings' side sitting precariously close to the foot of the table with a November fixture list that doesn't look like it will do them any favours and the Wigan manager must now be seriously concerned about his future at the JJB.

The home side looked nervous from the outset but Latics failed to capitalise on their shortfallings until a brilliant long ball from former City boy Mario Melchiot sent Marcus Bent racing clear on Maik Taylor's goal and the Wigan striker gave him no chance whatsoever with a thunderous strike.

Wigan's leader however was short lived as City were awarded a penalty inside of two minutes after Paul Scharner had foolishly handled Franck Quedrue's header.

Birmingham had been awarded a dubious looking free kick in a dangerous position just outside of the Wigan area which Dutch midfielder Daniel De Ridder, making his first league start since his summer move from Celta Vigo, sent over the Wigan wall only for Chris Kirkland in the Wigan goal to superbly palm over the bar for a corner kick.

De Ridder delivered the flag kick into the box and found Franck Quedrue but his header towards goal clearly struck Scharner on his right hand after the Austrian had spread himself to block. French midfielder Olivier Kapo made no mistake from the spot and Birmingham City were back in the game.

The first half continued with both sides creating half chances, Koumas and De Ridder causing problems at either end but neither side could add a second before the interval.

Latics pushed their nose back in front just before the hour mark and just to show how optimistic Latics fans are at present one fan sat close to myself commented that they were glad that Wigan had scored a second as it gave them more chance of earning a draw - how wrong they were!

Melchiot, who was continuing to haunt his old club, raced down the right wing before delivering a teasing, low ball in front of goal and with Marcus Bent bearing down on goal Ireland defender Stephen Kelly and keeper Maik Taylor tangled in their rush to clear and in what can only be described as a cock up of calamitous proportions allowed the ball to bobbled towards goal allowing Bent a simple tap in for his second of the afternoon.

All credit has to go to the home side and the way they didn't allow their heads to drop but Wigan must be kicking themselves for allowing City a way back into to the game let alone allowing them to win all three points.

Latics' lead lasted slightly longer this time - a matter of five minutes longer. De Ridder's corner was nodded towards goal by Brazilian Rafael Schmitz and with a host of Wigan players poised to supposedly clear City skipper Liam Ridgewell skipped in to nudge the ball home from close range for his first goal since his £2million move from deadly local rivals Aston Villa in August.

A point wouldn't have been the end of the world for Wigan - would it? Well they were away from home. They hadn't added a point to their league tally in what seems an eternity. And it would also maintain their half decent record against the West Midlands side - only one defeat in the league to date. However, with less than 10 minutes of normal time remaining, Latics buckled.

Ironically it turns out that Steve Bruce was seconds away from dragging Olivier Kapo off the pitch when the 27-year-old skipped across the edge of the box before dispatching a low drive past Kirkland.

Latics had no answer and when the fourth official signalled for an extra three minutes many of their players appeared as eager for Somerset referee Steve Tanner to bring an end to proceedings as the Birmingham players, officials and fans, such was their deflation.

The main topic of conversation amongst Wigan's travelling support on their journey from the ground was not the whys and wherefores of the game itself but how long Chris Hutchings had left before he joined Sammy Lee and Martin Jol in the managerial litter basket.

Wigan have some very tough games on the horizon and will not want to be too far adrift at the foot of the table after the Christmas turn. A change in fortunes is definitely required but whether Chris Hutchings is the right man to turn things around remains to be seen.

By John Heeley (www.cockneylatic.co.uk)