*Wigan remain precariously placed in their relegation fight after a draw with Aston Villa, who appear to have guaranteed top-flight survival.*

Latics winger Charles N’Zogbia angled in a shot after a Victor Moses lay-off to put the visitors ahead early on.

But Ashley Young steered a low 22-yard strike into the bottom corner in reply.

Hugo Rodallega shot narrowly wide for Wigan before Darren Bent had a late chance for Villa saved by Ali Al Habsi when clean through on goal.

In an anxious finish to a captivating match - in which both teams were threatening and vulnerable in equal measure - Wigan kept their nerve to secure a point.

Villa moved on to 42 points, which is likely to be enough to preserve their Premier League status after a disappointing season.

The home side’s poor record against the Latics also continued, and they have now failed to beat Wigan at home in a league game in six attempts.

N’Zogbia overcame a dead leg to play for the visitors and he did not take long to make an impact and provide evidence of his importance to manager Roberto Martinez.

Wigan midfielder Tom Cleverly robbed Kyle Walker, and Rodallega combined with Moses, who slipped in N’Zogbia to send a left-footed shot into the far corner after 10 minutes.

It was a promising foundation for the visitors to build on but, with only one clean sheet from their last 18 games, Wigan quickly lost their advantage.

Ashley Young picked himself up from a Ben Watson foul and touched the ball to Stiliyan Petrov from the free-kick before curling in a low shot past the despairing dive of Al Habsi.

Al Habsi fared better when his quick reactions helped fend away an eight-yard shot from Emile Heskey.

Heskey uncharacteristically lost his temper at referee Mike Jones after a perceived foul was not given in his favour.

The striker was lucky to escape a red card for squaring up to Jones as he was booked, and he continued to cut an angry and frustrated figure.

Young was rightly denied a spot-kick after falling in the Wigan area as the first half ended in frantic fashion.

Cleverly sent in a powerful shot for Wigan which hit Walker on the arm as he turned to block the strike, with Jones waving away penalty appeals from the visitors.

Watson immediately sent a cross to the far post for Antolin Alcaraz, whose shot was blocked by a lunging Richard Dunne.

Heskey was replaced by Marc Albrighton at the interval and, with each side sensing the prospect of victory, each tried to engineer a telling opening.

Villa almost did so when Bent tackled Gary Caldwell before being denied a tap-in when Ashley Young’s low cross was intercepted.

Wigan responded when Rodallega latched on to a Franco di Santo flick-on before swivelling and shooting in an effort which went agonisingly wide for the visitors.

The miss was almost punished when Ashley Young played Bent through on goal only for the England striker’s sidefooted shot being crucially saved by the outstretched leg of Al Habsi in the last chance of the match.