Manchester City moved two points closer to leaders Manchester United after they scraped past Wigan Athletic 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League.
The visitors dominated long spells of the first half, but Franco Di Santo squandered the best chance when he was unable to beat Joe Hart when clean through.
In the second half the game became more open and it was City who eventually took the points late on through Carlos Tevez's superb solo effort.
Read how the action unfolded with our live text commentary.
That's all from me. Make sure you stick around for the latest reaction and analysis from tonight's Premier League football. Goodnight.
That has to go down as a very fortunate point for City. Wigan deserve one, if not three points but in the end they come away with none. City move two points closer to United as the Reds have been held 2-2 at Upton Park.
FULL-TIME: Manchester City 1-0 Wigan Athletic
Tevez goes for the bottom corner, but cannot curl it back towards goal.
Late free kick here as McCarthy fouls Kolarov - it's a little harsh really, but smacks of inexperience as he tried to get between the left-back and the ball. He's booked for it, too.
Martinez looks forlorn on the sidelines. It's hard to see how his side could have been better prepared for this one. They've had their chances and they've been the better side for long spells, but a moment of brilliance is all that separates last year's champions from 18th-placed Wigan. It can be a cruel game.
There will be four minutes of time added on for Wigan to get what they probably deserve out of this one.
WIGAN SUB: Roger Espinoza is coming on for Wigan's last change. The lively Maloney comes off.
Wigan are still striving but as they do space is opening up for City to use. Milner's pass to Dzeko is overhit, though.
Kolarov again steams forward. He beats Boyce and McArthur for pace and fires across a wicked ball but no-one is sliding in at the far post.
WIGAN SUB: Gomez makes way for James McArthur as Martinez now looks to snatch a point. A deserved point.
It's so, so harsh on Wigan, but that is a marvellous goal! Richards comes off for Scott Sinclair as Mancini looks to grab the winner, but instead it's Tevez, who weaves between two challenges and fires into the top corner from just inside the box.
GOAL! City 1-0 Wigan (Carlos Tevez)
Maloney, who has worked really hard, wins a free kick just to the left of the box. He'll take it himself... Scharner meets it and rattles the bar from three yards! However, he's given offside - but it was very close.
City are now firmly in control and it's getting to the point of being one-way traffic. That said, the only proper chance has been for Dzeko, but they do have 10 minutes to find the possibly just one that they need. Toure slices a shot from 30 yards well wide to relieve some pressure on the Latics.
UPDATE: Man United have managed a second equaliser against West Ham and this time it's Robin van Persie. So as it stands there's no change in the 15-point gap at the top. At the Etihad, Wigan come forward in numbers but Figueroa's pass to Beausejour is too strong. That was a good chance but it was a poor pass.
SAVE! Straight down the other end some nice football between Tevez and Nasri sets Dzeko through, but Joel saves really well with his foot one-on-one to prevent a certain goal.
CHANCE! They're tackling really well now, Wigan. Both McManaman and Maloney win hard but fair sliding tackles. They come forward and work a spell of possession outside the City box. McManaman cuts in from the left and shoots low but that's comfortable for Hart really - the striker probably should have done better.
Wonderful touch from Nasri in midfield, as he 360s past Gomez, but Tevez eventually loses out after he was found. City are seeing a great deal of the ball now, but Wigan are still a threat on the break. Kompany is not happy after he does well to beat Kone to the ball - he probably wants a bit of support from his defensive colleagues.
Kolarov's pass to Nasri is short and McCarthy nips in. He finds Maloney, but is probably caught by Kolarov, however the referee doesn't agree. Wigan are looking slightly nervous all of a sudden, but they just need to keep going.
McManaman is involved straight away as he finds Beausejour on the overlap, but his low cross is easily cleared. The action goes to the other end but Barry and Nasri cannot create anything and so City are forced back to Kompany. Dzeko nearly gets a chance but then Yaya shoots from range and it's blocked for a corner. City just edging into it.
WIGAN SUB: McManaman is on with Di Danto being replaced. Di Santo should really have a goal to his name, but now Wigan have two pacey strikers up front - can McManaman get them the deserved goal?
Finally City are stringing some passes together, but the Wigan defence is remaining solid as they step up well to play Dzeko offside.
After the brief bit of excitement in the Wigan box, the visitors are right back on top of things. That is until Scharner gives the ball away but it's won back well by Gomez who tackles Tevez.
CHANCE! Chance at the other end for once as Tevez plays in Milner down the right but his superb cutback misses everyone in the box and goes safe.
If I was trying to explain this game to someone who didn't know the rules, they would never believe me that City are the ones in second and Wigan are in a battle to survive. City are little more than clinging on just now. Still no further chances but all thhe play is in the City half.
CITY SUB: Garcia is making way for James Milner in what will be another reshuffle. He's holding up four fingers as he runs on - presumably it'll be four at the back again, then.
UPDATE: Better news for City fans at Upton Park as Diame has fired West Ham into a 2-1 lead against United. Here, meanwhile, Wigan are still dominating.
CHANCE! Another really good move from Wigan. Maloney plays a reverse pass in the box to Di Santo, who cuts across to Kone but Kompany is there strongly to slide in and win the ball as Kone pulled the trigger. This is great stuff from the visitors.
Kone lashes an effort from distance but it's always going wide of the right-hand post. Di Santo and Kone link up again, but this time Toure wins it back and City break.
They could be 2-0 up Wigan, but they're refusing to let the near-misses affect them. Indeed they're still coming forward and are still the better team.
BOOKING: Tevez is booked for a late lunge on Maynor Figueroa. Completely the right decision there, it was poor from Tevez.
OFF THE LINE! Wigan come close again! Maloney cuts into the left side of the box, shifts one way then the other before firing towards goal. Hart is beaten but Lescott is back to clear off the line. Wigan have been so unlucky here!
Dzeko is straight into the action, but his pass is cut out and from it Alcaraz looks for Kone over the top but Hart is out to claim. From the way the players have lined up it looks as though Garcia has dropped into a back three between Kompany and Lescott, with Richards and Kolarov further forward in a mirror image of Wigan's formation.
City kick off the second half. Can they improve and will we have a goal?
CITY SUB: Mancini has recognised that the Aguero/Tevez partnership hasn't worked, and on comes Edin Dzeko for the former.
Without David Silva is has been tough going for the hosts. Toure, who was deployed in a more advanced role, has been forced much deeper by his teammates' inability to create.
Mancini will surely be very unhappy with his side's performance. They've not tested Joel in the Wigan goal at all and he has Joe Hart to thank that the sides are still level. It's also level at Upton Park, but City aren't helping themselves here.
So the sides are level, but it could really be 1-0 to Wigan. Di Santo spurned the best chance of the half not long before the break and they can feel unfortunate here, they've largely controlled the game.
HALF-TIME: City 0-0 Wigan
Joel has to deal with a Kolarov cross that looked as though it might squeeze in. However, City cannot work anything from the corner. Three minutes will be added on - I'm not sure why.
Tevez goes down in a heap under a foul from Scharner, but there's no booking. The City players are complaining, but it wasn't a particularly heavy foul, so the referee has got it just about right.
Kolarov, who has seen more of the ball than any City player so far, decides to stop being unselfish and lashes a shot low and wide from about 35 yards. Wigan have had 55% of the ball so far - that is a fantastic stat away to the reigning champions.
The Di Santo chance is as good a one as you will get in this league. He needs to score that to give his side hope. What are the odds on City punishing them for that?
SAVE! What a huge save from Hart! What a save. Wigan work a lovely move as Maloney flicks to Di Santo. He takes a touch and is one-on-one but Hart makes himself huge to keep it out! At the other end Richards fizzed in a cross and Wigan somehow clear. It's come to life.
The home fans try to urge their side into life but will the players respond? Barry tries to thread Aguero through but Robles is out quickly to gather. Then Richards again finds space but a poor cross means Wigan come away with the ball once more, and Kompany fouls Maloney.
UPDATE: West Ham's lead did not last long and Antonio Valencia has restored parity for United. In this one, Beausejour puts in a marvellous low cross but Kolarov has come across to the middle to clear over his own bar from the feet of Kone. Good defending.
If Di Santo could have found a better ball to Kone there that was a real chance. Di Santo was down the left and Kone almost free in the middle, but the cutback was behind him and eventually cleared by City. Then Boyce has acres of space to cross near the corner flag but it's massively overhit. That final ball is still lacking from the visitors - but it's all that is.
Really good pressing from Wigan - Aguero gets the ball on half way, but as soon as he does there's a crowd of black shirts around him. Wigan's effort has been absolutely spot on so far. Aguero goes down on the edge of the box after a coming together with Scharner, but nothing is given - although that was close...
James Milner is warning up as Nasri has been down since giving the ball away a few moments ago. He's up and will probably continue. Wigan's early liveliness has died down slightly, but they're still the better side.
Toure is unable to find Richards, who again had got forward into space in behind Beausejour. Maloney does really well to skip past Toure before McCarthy is eventually fouled by Vincent Kompany. Toure then muscles in on Gomez to win the ball back, but Nasri gives it away to the Spaniard immediately. City are very disjointed at the moment.
Kolarov is played into acres down the left, but he wants an extra touch which allows Alcaraz to come across and win the goal kick off the City man. He had time to cross, did Kolarov, that was poor.
UPDATE: West Ham have gone 1-0 up againstManchester United in the other 7.45 kickoff. Ricardo Vaz Te with the goal that the City fans have picked up on here. Meanwhile, Aguero bends one from an angle but it was always going wide. They're just starting to get on top now are City.
Richards marauds forward for the first time in the game. Samir Nasri looks to play him in behind but the right-back had just stayed offside. At the other end Joleon Lescott challenges Maloney superbly in a dangerous position.
Di Santo does really well to outmuscle the mountain that is Toure. The former Barcelona man is playing in an advanced midfield position tonight, instead of his usual slot deeper. He is dropping deep, however, as he's just not been in the game so far.
From City's point of view this is being played like an end-of-season game. There's just no urgency from them at the moment. Wigan, however, are looking lively and are scrapping just as y ou might expect.
Wigan again are able to take the sting out of City's passing, before coming forward themselves. All they're lacking early on is a bit of a spark to create some chances.
In the last few minutes City have finally started to impose themselves. They're passing it around at the back just to keep hold of it a bit, before Toure looks for Aguero over the top but the Argentine just cannot reel it in.
There's no fear at all being shown by Wigan in these opening 10 minutes. While there hasn't yet been a proper chance for either side, Wigan have seen more of the ball and have kept it better too. More of the same is needed if they're to upset the odds.
It was indeed the left-back, but despite striking it well his effort was always going wide. At the other end forward come Wigan, but Joe Hart is out to pinch the ball from the feet of di Santo.
City finally venture into the Wigan half but cannot work a chance as Tevez looks to drive through on his own. City now have a free kick just outside the box after a foul from Beausejour. Kolarov territory?
A Beausejour corner is cleared and a couple of shots come in after it but City are defending solidly early on - and they're having to. Wigan are starting really well.
It's quite a strong start by Wigan who are immediately looking to attack, as they do. Jordi Gomez links up with Franco Di Santo in the box but they're just unable to work a chance. It's all Wigan with possession though.
KICKOFF: Here we go then. Can City put a bit of pressure on United or can Wigan take a huge step towards survival?
The teams are out there, doing their final warmups. Wigan will kick us off in a few moments.
So it's almost time for kickoff. A reminder: we're also covering tonight's other two Premier League games. The important for City - West Ham vs. Manchester United - and the later kickoff, Fulham vs. Chelsea.
PREDICTION: While I'm on the subject of odds, it probably makes sense to throw in my thoughts. I want to be able to say Wigan have a chance - let's face it, every neutral likes an underdog - but I think City will take this by a couple of goals. I think 3-1. You'll get around 10-1 for that if you want to put your money where my mouth is.
So a quick look at the odds tells us, not so surprisingly, that City are big favourites here. The hosts are 1-3 for victory tonight while Wigan are given very little chance by the bookies at 11-1. The draw at around 5-1 could tempt a few gamblers out there.
One thing is for certain: they'll need a performance from Kone. He could create a threat by drifting into the channels, but more importantly he is their top scorer with 10 so far. He's just two shy of their Premier League record which is currently Henri Camara with 12.
City are also yet to be beaten here in 2013, and have just the one defeat in the league for the last two years. If that doesn't underline how tough this is for Wigan then I don't know what does. The visitors have just one defeat in six away games, however. They are playing well at the time of the season it does always seem to click for them.
However, they don't need to go all that far back for a win here. When City moved to the Emirates, Wigan won the first two games between the sides - the last five have all gone the way of the Citizens, though.
However, history - particularly recently - is not in favour of the Latics. Of the past six meetings between the sides City have won the lot and have conceded a round zero in the process.
Wigan's other incentive is that they will go above Aston Villa with victory today and will still have a game in hand. They will be on a high from reaching Wembley - although so will City - and will probably be aware that there's not a lot of pressure on them as no-one expects an away win.
So while it's hard to look beyond City there are factors that go in Wigan's favour. The gap to Manchester United could see City play one of two ways: either with nothing to lose or nothing to gain. If it's the latter, Wigan can get into them tonight, especially with the rusty Richards.
The other changes for City are Joe Hart coming back in goal, Joleon Lescott and Aleksandar Kolarov.
For Wigan, Callum McManaman is named on the bench following his excellent showing in the FA Cup semi, with Arouna Kone and Franco Di Santo up front. Paul Scharner will provide the much-needed protection for the back three. There's little doubt that Roberto Martinez wants to win the game rather than writing it off.
WIGAN XI: Robles; Boyce, Alcaraz, Figueroa; McCarthy, Maloney, Gomez, Beausejour, Scharner; Kone, Di Santo
The big news there is that Micah Richards returns to the City lineup after nearly six months out. He last played in October. It's four changes in all from Roberto Mancini who has picked both Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero to start.
CITY XI: Hart; Richards, Kolarov, Lescott, Kompany; Barry, Garcia, Yaya Toure, Nasri; Aguero, Tevez
Right before I get further into the nitty-gritty, the teams are in...
The odds are of course very much with the red half of Manchester. What is not in doubt, however, is the battle that Wigan find themselves in at the bottom. They do have this and another game in hand, but the team directly above them Aston Villa have the points on the board - which is probably preferable. They've scraped survival for the pasy few seasons, so can they do it again?
Although it looks unlikely, City are still not mathematically out of the title race. They sit 15 points with this their game in hand, but a good finish plus a disaster at Old Trafford over the next few weeks could still see them retain the Premier League trophy.
Good evening everyone and thanks for joining me tonight for this clash between two sides at opposite ends of the Premier League table - Manchester City and Wigan Athletic.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
