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Wigan may be in the Carling Cup final next week, but Paul Jewell's side showed they have real aspirations to achieve a top-six finish in the Premiership as well.
Sweden international Andreas Johansson grabbed a brace for the Latics, but Mido and Defoe ensured Tottenham got something from a real thriller at White Hart Lane.
Egyptian striker Mido was recalled to the Spurs starting line-up following his excursions at the African Cup of Nations. Robbie Keane was dropped to the bench, while Jermaine Jenas missed the game through illness.
Wigan were still missing striker Jason Roberts through suspension, but Henri Camara was available for selection and partnered Johansson in the Wigan attack.
Teenage winger Aaron Lennon could have opened the scoring for Tottenham after just five minutes. Defoe flicked the ball into the path of the former Leeds player who fired a close-range shot just past the post.
Wigan showed that their date at the Millennium Stadium against Manchester United next week was not playing on their minds as they broke the deadlock after 10 minutes.
Visiting goalkeeper Mike Pollitt's long clearance was flicked on by Paul Scharner into the path of Johansson, who struck the ball past Paul Robinson into the corner of the net.
Tottenham refused to lie down and new signing Danny Murphy was doing his best to impress on his first start for the club.
Murphy was involved in the heart of the action on 14 minutes when he headed the ball into the path of Defoe who looked odds on to score, but his powerful shot was superbly kept out by Pollitt.
The former Liverpool and Charlton midfielder came close again on 21 minutes when his free-kick was fired into the Wigan wall. It rebounded nicely to Murphy who drilled a blistering drive just over the bar.
The home side got their just rewards when they grabbed an equaliser in the 23rd minute.
Paul Stalteri's deflected cross picked out Mido whose superb back-heel flew past Pollitt into the back of the net.
Tottenham could have taken the lead on 27 minutes when Lennon burst down the right and crossed for Mido, but the Egyptian's header flew inches past the post.
Camara almost scored with a spectacular strike on 54 minutes. Pascal Chimbonda made good ground down the right before crossing in for Camara whose acrobatic overhead kick went just past the post.
And the Senegal international got the better of Spurs skipper Ledley King on 55 minutes but saw his left-foot shot fly just over the bar.
But Wigan's never-say-die spirit shone through again and they raced into the lead on 67 minutes as Johansson grabbed his second of the game.
Johansson played a neat interchange with Camara on the edge of the box and the Swedish star made no mistake in striking the ball past Robinson.
Their lead lasted just 53 seconds before Defoe got the home side back on level terms.
Michael Carrick's high searching ball was flicked on by Mido into the path of his strike partner who once again showed the watching Sven-Goran Eriksson what he can do in front of goal, by slotting the ball into the corner of the net.
Scharner could have grabbed a late winner for Wigan. Chimbonda's ball into the box fell to the Austrian midfielder, whose header produced a fantastic one-handed save from Robinson diving to his left.
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