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By Alan Baldwin
LONDON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Sven-Goran Eriksson's Manchester City failed to make the most of their city rivals' absence, needing a win to go back ahead of Chelsea but instead being held 1-1 at struggling Wigan Athletic.
City remain fourth, level with United on 30 points but behind on goal difference. Fifth placed Liverpool are at home to Bolton Wanderers on Sunday.
Steve Bruce's return to the JJB Stadium as Wigan manager started in the worst possible fashion, with Brazilian Geovanni putting City ahead in the first minute before Paul Scharner equalised with a diving header in the 25th.
Paul Jewell, who kept Wigan up at the end of last season, started his reign at bottom placed Derby County with an agonising 1-0 defeat at Sunderland.
Anthony Stokes scored the 90th minute winner with an overhead kick from the right side of the box that lifted Sunderland out of the bottom three and up to 14th place.
Middlesbrough replaced them in the relegation zone after a 1-1 draw at Reading.
Everton, who thrashed Sunderland 7-1 last week, were unable to repeat their heroics and drew 0-0 at Portsmouth, while Blackburn Rovers hammered suffering Newcastle United 3-1 at Ewood Park.
