Match ends, Wigan Athletic 1, West Bromwich Albion 1.
West Brom missed the chance to return to the top of the Championship but Charlie Austin's goal from a free-kick on the six-yard line saw them salvage a draw at Wigan.
Slaven Bilic rested attacking trio Grady Diangana, Matheus Pereira and Hal Robson-Kanu and his side were second best in the first half as the Latics constantly threatened through Josh Windass and Jamal Lowe.
The hosts eventually took a deserved, albeit fortuitous, lead when Sam Johnstone tipped a 35-yard Sam Morsy strike onto the post, only for the ball to rebound back off the Baggies keeper and in.
Michael Jacobs then hit the bar for Wigan but West Brom levelled when Austin placed the ball past 10 players on the line after goalkeeper Jamie Jones needlessly picked up a backpass.
The point means just goal difference keeps the Baggies behind leaders Leeds, who beat Hull on Tuesday, while Paul Cook's side move to within three points of safety.
Bilic rotated some key players with half an eye on Saturday lunchtime's West Midlands derby at Birmingham and Wigan should have capitalised, Lowe seeing a follow-up smothered by Johnstone and Windass denied a penalty when he appeared to be brought down in the box by Semi Ajayi.
The Latics themselves made seven changes from their weekend defeat by Luton - with Cook serving a touchline ban - and might have been out of sight in the second half had Gavin Massey headed either side of Johnstone after Jacobs' strike fell to him off the woodwork.
But keeper Jones appeared to be drinking from his water bottle when he saw Kal Naismith's backpass come towards him and unknowingly picked it up, allowing Jake Livermore to roll the resulting free-kick to Austin to score his fourth goal in four games.
Massey came closest to a winner for the Latics - Johnstone clawing away his back-post header - but they are now winless in nine, despite scoring first in their past five matches.
Wigan boss Paul Cook told BBC Radio Manchester:
"A massive step forward for us - I think the level of performance tonight was there for everyone to see and that's the most pleasing thing for me as a manager.
"On reflection of the game I think it would've been fair for us to win, but we respect the point.
"West Brom are in excellent form, they're a fantastic team and I'm sure they'll be delighted to go away with a point because I don't think you'll get many gifts better than the one we gave them, that's for sure."
West Brom head coach Slaven Bilic told BBC WM:
"I have to admit it we were nowhere near what we were so far.
"I don't want to accept it but at the end of the day I told the guys to be disappointed but take this as a blessing because we didn't get big-time punished.
"We didn't match them in the majority of the game and to be fair we have to take this point as a good one."
Line-ups
Wigan
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 23Jones
- 2ByrneSubstituted forSterlingat 90+4'minutes
- 21Kipre
- 33Naismith
- 3Robinson
- 8Evans
- 5Morsy
- 11MasseyBooked at 82mins
- 9Lowe
- 17JacobsSubstituted forRobertsat 80'minutes
- 10WindassSubstituted forGarnerat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 4MacLeod
- 12Pearce
- 14Garner
- 15Sterling
- 18Roberts
- 29Gyollai
- 38Gelhardt
West Brom
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Johnstone
- 36FergusonSubstituted forFurlongat 61'minutes
- 5BartleyBooked at 90mins
- 6AjayiBooked at 64mins
- 14Townsend
- 8Livermore
- 19SawyersBooked at 73mins
- 10PhillipsSubstituted forCosta Pereiraat 60'minutes
- 7Krovinovic
- 21Edwards
- 15AustinSubstituted forRobson-Kanuat 60'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Furlong
- 4Robson-Kanu
- 12Costa Pereira
- 18Barry
- 23Bond
- 26Hegazi
- 29Diangana
- Referee:
- Andy Davies
- Attendance:
- 9,444
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home4
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Wigan Athletic 1, West Bromwich Albion 1.
Substitution
Substitution, Wigan Athletic. Dujon Sterling replaces Nathan Byrne.
Booking
Kyle Bartley (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Kyle Bartley (West Bromwich Albion).
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Gary Roberts (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Cedric Kipre.
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Attempt missed. Jamal Lowe (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Gary Roberts.
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Foul by Kyle Bartley (West Bromwich Albion).
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Joe Garner (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Matheus Pereira (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Lee Evans (Wigan Athletic).
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Attempt missed. Sam Morsy (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
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Attempt blocked. Antonee Robinson (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Gary Roberts.
Substitution
Substitution, Wigan Athletic. Joe Garner replaces Josh Windass.
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Attempt saved. Gavin Massey (Wigan Athletic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Gary Roberts with a cross.
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Attempt blocked. Kyle Edwards (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Conor Townsend.
Booking
Gavin Massey (Wigan Athletic) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Filip Krovinovic (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Lee Evans (Wigan Athletic).