Wigan draw before showdown Sunday

Gohouri will hope to add to his tally of Cote d’Ivoire caps at the World Cup [GALLO/GETTY]

Wigan Athletic warmed up for their pivotal role in the English Premier League title race by relegating Hull City with an injury-time equaliser from Cote d’Ivoire defender Steve Gohouri.

The Ivorian centre-back teed himself up for an overhead kick after Paul Scharner’s knockdown in a scenario that Manchester United fans will be praying is repeated when Wigan go to Chelsea at the weekend.

United need the Latics to take away an unlikely win or draw from Stamford Bridge to give the Reds, who face Stoke City at home, any chance of winning the championship.

Alex Ferguson’s side sit one point behind Chelsea going into the final day.

In the late match on Monday, Blackburn Rovers beat Arsenal 2-1 to leave the Gunners 11 points off the top as Arsene Wenger’s side endure a dreadful finish to the season after challenging for the title a few weeks ago.

Moses opener

Nigeria-born Victor Moses had put Wigan ahead in the first half on Sunday with a surging run from the left, the England under-19 winger checking past the defence to fire low into the net.

Hull’s goal difference of minus 41 meant their chance of avoiding relegation was in the fantasy section of Premier League stories but they were given hope of staying mathematically safe by debutant Will Atkinson’s headed goal later in the half.

And they looked to have secured their first away win of the season when another debutant, Mark Cullen, headed past Serbia keeper Vladimir Stojkovic.

But Gohouri staked his claim for a callup to Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Cote d’Ivoire squad for the World Cup with an acrobatic finish on the stroke of full time at the DW Stadium.

Wigan are seven points clear of the relegation zone going into the final day – 47 points behind Chelsea.

The northwestern team beat Chelsea 3-1 earlier this season, but at Stamford Bridge and in front of an expectant west London crowd, it will take a miraculous performance to stop the Blues denying Manchester United a fourth consecutive title next Sunday.

At Ewood Park Robin van Persie put visiting Arsenal in the lead but goals from David Dunn and Christopher Samba lifted Sam Allardyce’s side to 10th in the league.