Wigan 1-1 Sunderland

Wigan earned a deserved draw against Sunderland after Amr Zaki's late equaliser cancelled out Titus Bramble's early own goal.

At a rowdy JJB Stadium, Bramble inadvertently nodded the ball home from a Steed Malbranque cross on 15 minutes.

But Wigan stayed calm to push forward and continually test Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon in an end-to-end game.

They got their reward on 77 minutes when Zaki rammed Maynor Figueroa's awkward cross in from ten yards.

Coming into the match, Sunderland boss Roy Keane made four changes to the side which lost to Manchester City in their last match with former West Ham pair Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney handed debuts in defence.

Wigan manager Steve Bruce decided not to tinker on the back of their 5-0 win over Hull at the KC Stadium, their biggest away league win in 17 years.

Both sides set about the match at some pace as they sought to really get their respective seasons going after a long international break.

But Wigan paid the price for a leaving Sunderland creator Steed Malbranque in space on the left on 15 minutes.

The former Fulham man had plenty of time to whip in a dangerous inswinging cross which Titus Bramble could only divert into his own goal, as the ball skidded off his forehead past Chris Kirkland.

Determined to be positive, Wigan threw men forward in search of a quick response but Sunderland looked threatening on the break as they sought to utilise the space.

Kieron Richardson snatched at a chance when he had room to work a shot on goal from 20 yards out.

At the other end, Luis Valencia also miscued when dragging his shot back into a posse of players after it fell to his feet following a frantic goalmouth scramble.

Egyptian striker Amr Zaki fought hard to create openings using his physical presence but Sunderland's Djibril Cisse managed to create a breakaway opening, racing away from Wigan's back-line on 38 minutes but flashing his low shot past Kirkland and the post from a tight angle.

The open, end-to-end nature of the game continued after half-time and Lee Cattermole was soon booked for reckless lunge on Nyron Nosworthy.

Wigan's Emerson Boyce looped header just over from Jason Koumas corner but Sunderland could have gone two up when, one-on-one, Cisse smashed the ball hard and low after being put clear by Malbranque only to be denied by an outstanding save from Kirkland.

Craig Gordon made a superb save of his own minutes later as he managed pushed the ball round the post from a powerful Olivier Kapo.

But Wigan kept chipping away, with Zaki's header from a Jason Koumas cross just shaving the wrong side of the post.

And they finally made the breakthrough on 77 minutes when Maynor Figueroa broke down the left to put a low cross into a crowded area which, with Sunderland failing to clear despite numerous opportunies, Zaki slammed home from six yards with his left foot.

Cattermole got his second yellow card and was sent off for a foul on Teemu Tainio five minutes from time and, as both sides pushed forward for a late winner, substitute Daryl Murphy failed to get enough on a header from six yards out.