London: Tottenham kept their top-four dreams alive after snatching a late 2-2 sketch against Wigan at the DW Stadium on Saturday. A humorous opener from Gareth Bale gave a ninth-minute guide to Spurs but an instant answer from Emerson Boyce put the Latics on level terms only two minutes later. The hosts were the principal side from thereon in and a sensational hit from McManaman early in the 2nd half seemed to have given them success, though a late own goal from Boyce intended Andre Villas-Boas's side left with a of the spoils. Roberto Martinez produced two changes from the medial side that dropped 2-0 to West Ham last weekend, with Jean Beausejour and James McArthur returning instead of Antolin Alcaraz and Stephen Caldwell. Andre Villas-Boas' area were presented to a 2-2 draw by Wigan at the DW Stadium. The guests, meanwhile, added Jermain Defoe and Tom Huddlestone back in the starting line-up, with Kyle Naughton also replacing Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Predictably, Bale was the first person to threaten as the Welshman headed broad two minutes in before a Huddlestone free end failed against the post soon afterward. But with Bale proving such a consistent danger, Spurs wouldn't need to wait miss their operator - even though the method of the Welshman's attack was in marked contrast to some of his 18 other league goals this season. Maynor Figueroa and Joel were exchanging moves within their own package but as the Wigan stopper came under great pressure from Bale, his attempted clearance went right into the 23-year-old's boot and into the back of the net. Such a humorous target may have dented any team's assurance but the Latics replied immediately because they won a corner straight up the other end, with Boyce then growing unmarked to head home his third of the season. And it was the hosts who seemed the likelier to report then as Arouna Kone cut an attempt from distance only over the bar on 24 minutes. Despite late force from Bale and Defoe, though, it would remain 1-1 at the split, while Mousa Dembele's evening was cut short on the stroke of half-time since the injured Belgian made means for Lewis Holtby. But upon the resumption, McManaman ensured Wigan would grab where they left off ahead of the break in breath-taking manner. Latching onto a ball on the edge of the area, the 21-year-old took the ball far from Naughton and smashed a thunderous half-volley to the top corner past a weak Hugo Lloris. It was a fantastic strike and the cause it gave Wigan was at least Martinez's men deserved. The home side's next move was easy to guess: they induced yet another opponent and a long amount of resolute defending followed. But the hosts could only carry on for such a long time and, from a late on, Boyce made from hero to villain with a late contact that sent the ball into his or her own net - keeping Spurs' Champions League hopes alive and compounding Wigan's relegation concerns. (For changes you can give your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
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