Charlton Athletic 2-2 Wigan Athletic: Macauley Bonne scores late to hold troubled Latics to a draw
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Macauley Bonne celebrates after his stoppage-time leveller for Charlton
Macauley Bonne scored an injury-time equaliser to boost Charlton Athletic's Championship survival bid and leave troubled Wigan Athletic still not sure of their place in the second tier for next season.
First-half goals from Jamal Lowe and Kieran Dowell had looked to be setting the in-form Latics on the way to victory at The Valley.
But Addicks striker Bonne slotted home in the 92nd minute to make it 2-2, after Alfie Doughty's fine volley had cancelled out Lowe's early opener.
Charlton are outside of the relegation zone on goal difference following Luton Town's win over fellow strugglers Hull City while Wigan - who have a 12-point deduction for entering administration looming - are 10 points clear of danger.
Charlton's superior goal difference means they will avoid an immediate return to League One if they can beat champions Leeds United at Elland Road on Wednesday (19:30 BST).
The Addicks will survive should Luton Town lose at home against mid-table Blackburn, but Wigan's fate is out of their hands.
The Latics host a Fulham side who still have an outside chance of automatic promotion on the final day.
Addicks snatch point in lively encounter
Wigan, fresh from a club-record 8-0 win over Hull in midweek, took the lead in the ninth minute.
Kieffer Moore saw a header well saved by Dillon Phillips, but the ball rebounded off the Addicks keeper and onto the woodwork for Lowe to nod in from close range.
Charlton equalised in style two minute later when Doughty guided a first-time left-footed volley past David Marshall from a narrow angle after meeting Adam Matthews' deep cross from the right.
On-loan Everton midfielder Kieran Dowell has now scored five goals in his past six games for Wigan
The hosts had a chance to take the lead midway through the first half but Marshall raced off his line to deny Bonne from a one-on-one, and Charlton then had claims for a penalty turned down by referee Gavin Ward after Bonne went down in the box under pressure from Nathan Byrne.
Instead, Wigan re-took the lead five minutes before the break when Dowell converted a low cross from Antonee Robinson.
Charlton showed more urgency in the second period but a low free-kick from Naby Sarr was the only occasion Marshall was really tested.
Wigan continued to threaten and had chances to go 3-1 up, as Lowe shot into the side-netting from a narrow angle and Sam Morsy tested Phillips from the edge of the area.
But Charlton salvaged a point when Bonne received a flick-on from substitute Chuks Aneke and shot across goal to find the bottom right-hand corner.
Pair still waiting on survival
Five wins in eight games since the season restarted last month has seen Wigan surge up the table, but the threat of a points deduction by the English Football League, which the club are appealing, means Paul Cook's men are still in need of results.
Despite a run of just one defeat in 14 games, Wigan require other results to go their way to be sure of a place in the second tier next season.
Charlton won their first two games following the restart, but have only picked up three points since from a six-game winless run.
The south-east London club have also endured a tumultuous 2020 off the pitch following a takeover of the club by East Street Investments which is yet to be fully ratified by the EFL.
Bonne's late goal will boost Lee Bowyer's side, but both clubs' battles to avoid the drop will go down to the final day of the campaign on Wednesday.
Manager reaction
Wigan boss Paul Cook:
"There will be no criticism.
"As much as I'm hurting, there won't be, because we were set a really different task about two weeks ago and these lads have responded magnificently.
"We might have to win our last game against Fulham and the disappointment for us is we could win the game and it might still not be enough.
"That is the real disappointment because these players don't deserve that, but I am not going to go harping on about spilt milk."
"We will give it one last push to get us up to 61 points.
"Will 49 be enough to keep us in the league? I am sure it would, so let's concentrate on being positive for Wednesday."
Charlton manager Lee Bowyer on the decision not to award a first-half penalty, with the score 1-1:
"It could be the difference between us staying up and not staying up. It can't keep happening.
"I will ring Alan Wiley (referee director at PGMOL) and I will tell him again, like I did after the Reading game, and I know what he will do.
"On Monday he will again come back to me and apologise again like he did last week.
"I know that will happen, but it does not make anything easier for us. We are talking about massive decisions."