Super-sub Stephen Elliott rescued a point for Sunderland and denied Wigan from stretching their lead at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship.
The former Manchester City striker took advantage of Matt Jackson's headed clearance from Dean Whitehead's centre in the 82nd minute and thwarted the Latics's hopes of a fourth straight league win.
Wigan were in control for most of the match after Jason Roberts held off Carl Robinson and fired home from close range after 18 minutes.
Although they paid the penalty for resting on their laurels and taking their foot of the pedal, they look a far better bet than the Black Cats to mount a serious promotion challenge for a second successive season.
Roberts and strike partner Nathan Ellington were a handful throughout against a Black Cats side with just one victory from five games and still coming to terms with the loss of several experienced players in the close season.
Roberts set the Latics on their way in the 18th minute, brushing aside the weak challenge of Robinson from Ellington's pass to easily beat Mart Poom.
Robinson had been the villain of the piece just four minutes earlier when he squandered Sunderland's only chance of the first half, failing to hit the target from close range following Kevin Kyle's knockdown.
Roberts caused the home side endless problems from the start, firing just wide twice in the early stages and then forcing Poom into a save as Wigan called the tune.
Sunderland's cause was not helped following the loss of central defender Steve Caldwell with a foot injury in the 25th minute, but that was no excuse for the lack of penetration from a lacklustre midfield and a string of offside decisions.
Sunderland fans had to wait until the 82nd minute to cheer an effort on target, Leighton Baines heading off the line from Robinson and two minutes later Elliott popped up with the most unlikely of equalisers.