Steve Bruce's side are five points clear of trouble with just two games to play against Aston Villa and Manchester United.

A point against the Royals could and maybe should have been all three. It would have been with better finishing.

Jason Koumas had a good chance in the opening two minutes.
The Wales midfielder ran at the defence and let fly with a 25-yard drive which went over the bar.

Latics came sharply out of the blocks.
A great opportunity went begging in the seventh minute when Koumas' corner was nodded into the ground by Bent and the ball came back off the post.

Less than a minute later Wilson Palacios cut in from the left and arrowed a shot just over.

Reading were playing second fiddle to most of the play.
Their first sight of goal came in the 15th minute. Kevin Doyle caused more harm to the fans sat in the South Stand with a first-time left foot volley.
The Reading striker was no closer three minutes later when he shot horroibly wide at the back post.

The Latics defence suffered a body blow in the 25th minute when Mario Melchiot limped off with groin injury. Ryan Taylor came on in his place at right back.

In the 40th minute Wilson Palacios was well off target with a left foot volley.

Latics came flying out of the blocks in the second half.
Michael Brown had a long-range shot tipped over by Marcus Hahnemann a minute after the re-start.
Emile Heskey then planted a header over from Taylor's corner.

Heskey saw another sight of goal in the 62nd minute. Paul Scharner put him through, but his shot was easily saved by the keeper.

Brown had another go in the 68th minute, but Hahnemann was again equal to his deflected effort.
Palacios sent a 35-yard drive straight down the keeper's throat as Wigan got desperate.

Koumas' left foot shot from 20 yards was never going to trouble the net.
Antoine Sibierski and Marlon King were both thrown on by Bruce in search of a winner.

At the other end, Reading hardly had sniff. Michael Duberry's point blank header was straight at Chris Kirkland. And Taylor produced a great block to deny Dave Kitson.

King had an effort in injury time pushed round the post before the final whistle went.

Latics: Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Scharner, Kilbane, Valencia, Palacios, Brown, Koumas, Bent, Heskey. Subs: Sibierski, King, Taylor, Skoko, Pollitt.

Reading: Hahnemann, Rosenior, Duberry, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Bikey, Harper, Hunt, Lita, Kitson, Doyle. Subs: Cisse, Atejovsky, Little, Long, Federici.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (Leeds)

For a full match report, pictures and analysis see Monday's Wigan Post and Tuesday's Wigan Observer.