Steve Bruce and Paul Jewell enjoyed contrasting fortunes in their first games as the managers of the Premiership's bottom two clubs.
Jewell, who faces a daunting task trying to save Derby County from relegation, saw his side concede an injury time goal to Anthony Stokes as Sunderland moved out of the relegation zone.
Bruce's Wigan, meanwhile, were at home to Manchester City, who started the day in third place in the table. It looked bleak for Wigan when Deiberson Geovanni shot City into a first minute lead, but Paul Scharner equalised for the home side after 25 minutes. Mario Melchiot was sent off for Wigan late on and Emile Heskey suffered an injury, but the home side clung on to split the points. Man City drop to fourth due to Chelsea's victory over West Ham earlier in the day.
Elsewhere, the pressure increased further on Sam Allardyce as Newcastle fell to their fifth defeat in a row, this time at Blackburn. Obafemi Martins nodded in Geremi's free kick to put the visitors ahead, before a David Bentley equalised with a long-distance free-kick. Joey Barton further endeared himself to the Newcastle faithful by missing a great opportunity to put Newcastle ahead before Bentley got his second of the afternoon with another long-range strike. Tugay the added a late third.
Everton and Portsmouth cancelled each other out in a goalless draw at Fratton Park, leaving both sides on the edge of the Uefa Cup places.
Middlesbrough got a point at Reading as Tuncay Sanli struck his first goal for the club to nullify Dave Kitson's opener. The point was not enough to prevent Gareth Southgate's side from slipping into the relegation zone.
