The late televised kick off meant that Wigan knew exactly what three points from Eastlands for the third successive season would mean with their highest league position since the end of September the reward for seeing off Sven-Goran Eriksson's side.

Wigan were on the decline back then and a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Liverpool, their second loss of what turned out to be a eight match losing streak, saw Chris Hutchings' Latics side drop two places to twelth.

Ironically their slide down the table was halted by the arrival of Steve Bruce and his first game in charge which saw his new team hold Manchester City at the JJB Stadium.

However any thoughts of climbing back up the table were washed away at a rain soaked City of Manchester Stadium with neither side able to take their chances in front of City's lowest home league crowd of the season.

Steve Bruce was left ruing missed chances with Wilson Palacios the main culprit - the Honduran midfielder twice failing to find the back of the net from decent positions.

The Wigan gaffer commented: "We had the opportunities to do it in the last twenty minutes to do that but unfortunately we didn't take the chances but overall it was a fantastic display."

Wigan were forced into making one change to the side that had dispatched Championship bound Derby last weekend with Jason Koumas making the starting line up for the first time since - the Welsh international replacing Kevin Kilbane who missed out with a foot injury.

Latics almost saw themselves in front inside the first couple of minutes but Marlon King's effort was comfortably gathered by City keeper Joe Hart and minutes later Jason Koumas' attempt on goal proved equally ineffective.

The home side almost immediately replied, forcing Chris Kirkland into action for the first time, when Darius Vassell's header brought a fine save from the Wigan stopper.

Both keepers had little else to do until just beyond the half hour mark when Chris Kirkland raced from his line to deny Vassell - a move that left him requiring attention from physio Alex Cribley after the England international took a knock to the abdomen for his troubles.

Midfielder Michael Brown saw yellow on 35 minutes, his ninth of the season, after clashing with Brazilian international Elano and now finds himself a whisker away from his second suspension of the season.

Erik Edman was then attended to after bravely clearing a City attack which resulted in the Swede colliding with Vassell and taking a nasty knock to his head.

The game trickled towards half time but not before Emile Heskey headed wide of the mark.

City proved a bit more of a threat after the break with former Portsmouth striker Benjani a particular danger in front of goal.

Paul Scharner did well to prevent Onuoha from sneaking in at the back post to meet a weighted free kick from Michael Johnson in the 53rd minute.

Wigan also saw chances go begging as Valencia failed to deliver and Marlon King's snapshot was blocked 10 yards out.

The game had stalemate written all over it with neither side really looking likely to score but Wigan could quite easily have sneaked maximum points with a flurry in the final 20 minutes or so.

Substitute Antoine Sibierski sent a Heskey cross wide of the far post and the former City frontman also saw another effort blocked.

Latics' best chance of stealing the show fell to Palacios in the 83rd minute after his shot from a Heskey shot had been parried by Hart with the rebound falling almost invitingly back in his path.

However the ball proved a bit too difficult for the 23-year-old to control and his second attempt flew soaring above the bar.

Koumas tested Hart with an injury time free kick before referee Steve Bennett brought to an end a largely uneventful match but Steve Bruce can take some positives from the game.

"I think this team has the threat of a goal but the big problem that we needed to do was to stop conceding. We have worked a lot on the discipline and the shape of the team and thankfully for the moment it is starting to bear fruit."

He continued: "There are only two points between ourselves and twelfth position so anything is capable of happening and there is still a long way to go. If anything it was difficult for us today."

Report by John Heeley www.cockneylatic.co.uk