Aston Villa were held to a goalless draw at home thanks to a battling defensive display by Wigan on Saturday.
There were few chances in the first half, although Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel had to make a great one-handed save to deny Maynor Figueroa in stoppage time.
Villa pressed hard for the win in the second period and Zat Knight's downward header hit Chris Kirkland's left post.
Figueroa then had to clear a Gabriel Agbonlahor header off the line in an amazing goalmouth scramble, before Paul Scharner made two goalline clearances in quick succession from John Carew and Luke Young as Wigan held on for a valuable point.
The Latics, who have agreed a fee with Newcastle for defender Charles N'Zogbia, had showed their mettle in holding Liverpool in midweek.
And they again proved their worth, often having to resort to desperate last-ditch defending during the second half when they were penned back for lengthy periods.
But their back four were prepared to put their bodies on the line with Figueroa outstanding.
Villa, for whom Gareth Barry and Stiliyan Petrov pulled the strings in midfield, are still unbeaten in 12 league games, from which they have collected 28 points.
But this was a golden opportunity to climb above Liverpool and Chelsea before they meet on Sunday and put the pressure on Manchester United at the top.
Before the game, fans from both sides joined in a minute's applause in celebration of former Villa skipper Johnny Dixon, who led the side to the 1957 FA Cup final triumph, and ex-manager and player Vic Crowe after their recent deaths.
Wigan pushed Scharner into a midfield role in a 4-5-1 formation with Mido as the only out-and-out striker.
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