Reading remain above the relegation zone despite only managing a 0-0 draw at Wigan Athletic.

The Royals had faced dropping into the bottom three for much of the match due to Birmingham's lead over Liverpool, but the eventual draw at St Andrew's means Steve Coppell's side stay just one point clear in 17th place.

Wigan, who were clear but not entirely safe from the relegation mire before the match, made the stronger start in front of their home crowd, and almost immediately Jason Koumas picked up the ball and ran at the Reading defence.

The Welsh winger, preferred ahead of Ryan Taylor, cut inside and struck a shot from the edge of the area, but the effort was sent into the crowd.

Striker Marcus Bent almost put the Latics ahead after just eight minutes, when his downward header from a corner was cleared off the line.

Reading's Kevin Doyle, playing out on the right wing to accommodate the returning Leroy Lita, had Reading's first real opportunity when he got on the end of Lita's nod-down, but could only hook a volley over with his back to goal.

Taylor did make his appearance for Wigan midway through the first half, when captain Mario Melchiot clashed with Stephen Hunt and could not continue.

Hunt seemed determined to get a booking, and got one later on after fouling Wilson Palacios. That yellow card was one of six in a physical match that lacked in real quality.

After the break the match remained much the same, and Wigan boss Steve Bruce replaced Bent for Antoine Sibierski. The Frenchman injected some urgency into the Wigan attack, and not long afterwards Emile Heskey flicked a Koumas free kick goalwards, only to see it cleared off the line.

Just minutes later Sibierski laid the ball back for Michael Brown to strike from the edge of the box, but the midfielder's strike took a deflection and goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann managed to scramble across and palm it away.

Just three points now separate Reading from 19th-placed Fulham, and the Royals' final two matches are at home to Tottenham and away to Derby County.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport