City trailed to Paul Scharner's early header but piled forward after the restart and a combination of Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland and poor finishing denied them a rare win on the road.

Wigan flew out of the traps and Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross was booked for clattering into Hugo Rodallega after just seven minutes.

Charles N'Zogbia then had a shot deflected wide before Latics took the lead in the 14th minute.

N'Zogbia delivered a superb free-kick into the box and Scharner rose highest to head past Thomas Sorensen.

Three minutes later Sorensen denied Scharner a second before Stoke finally came to life on the half hour with Danny Higginbotham and Robert Huth both having shots blocked.

Tuncay then forced a save from Kirkland, but Wigan ended the half on top with Scharner heading just inches wide.

Stoke started the second half with real intent and Tuncay should have equalised in the 53rd minute.

Huth nodded down a long ball into the box and the Turkey striker found space but couldn't force his shot beyond Kirkland.

Wigan were happy to sit back on their lead but almost added a second on 66 minutes when Rodallega tried an outrageous overhead kick from a tight angle but was unlucky to see his shot dip onto the bar and over.

But Stoke made the most of that let off and were level 16 minutes from time.

Substitute Ricardo Fuller linked up with Matthew Etherington and his cross found Tuncay to head past Kirkland.

And they almost had a second soon after when another Etherington cross was nodded back by Fuller but Mamady Sidibe headed against the bar.

City piled forward in the closing stages and almost grabbed all of the points in injury time.

Another Etherington cross caused chaos in the box but substitute's James Beattie's shot was superbly saved by Kirkland.