McManaman gives Wigan hope, Agbonlahor saves Villa

Wigan Athletic’s striker Callum McManaman celebrates after their English Premier League football match against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns in West Bromwich, central England on May 4, 2013. Wigan won the game 3-2.

LONDON - Callum McManaman scored a late winner as Wigan Athletic gave themselves renewed hope of avoiding relegation from the Premier League by twice coming from behind to win 3-2 at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

The home side twice took the lead at the Hawthorns, through Shane Long and Gareth McAuley, only for Wigan to reply on each occasion through Arouna Kone and substitute James McArthur, who scored with his first touch.

McManaman netted the winner in the 80th minute, side-footing home from close range after a superb run down the left from Shaun Maloney.

The FA Cup finalists are now just two points below fourth-bottom Sunderland, who host Stoke City on Monday, and three points adrift of Newcastle United, who could only draw 0-0 at West Ham United.

Gabriel Agbonlahor may have secured Aston Villa’s top-flight status for another year after scoring an 89th-minute winner in a 2-1 success at Norwich City.

Villa, who thrashed Sunderland 6-1 on Monday, took a 55th-minute lead when Agbonlahor drove forward from the halfway line before planting a shot into the bottom-left corner from the edge of the 18-yard box.

Grant Holt equalised from the penalty spot with 16 minutes to play, but Agbonlahor struck again at the death to send Paul Lambert’s team five points clear of danger, albeit having played a game more than third-bottom Wigan.

Elsewhere, deposed champions Manchester City were held to a 0-0 draw at Swansea City in a forgettable game at the Liberty Stadium.

The visitors’ best chance fell to Edin Dzeko, who somehow contrived to shoot wide from Pablo Zabaleta’s pass in the dying stages.

The result left Roberto Mancini’s men 13 points behind champions Manchester United, who could now move 16 points clear at the summit with victory at home to third-place Chelsea on Sunday.

Hal Robson-Kanu scored twice as relegated Reading secured only their second away win of the season with a 4-2 success at Fulham, who fell to 13th place.

The Welsh international opened the scoring with a 12th-minute penalty and curled in his second goal 17 minutes into the second half.

Bryan Ruiz hit back twice for Fulham, either side of a 75th-minute strike by Adam Le Fondre, but Jem Karacan made sure of victory with a low shot in the 83rd minute.

Fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur were bidding to climb to third by winning at home to Southampton, but kick-off in the game at White Hart Lane was delayed by half an hour after a road accident forced the closure of a local motorway.

Meanwhile, Arsenal will hope to tighten their grip on a top-four place later on Saturday when they visit relegated Queens Park Rangers, who slipped to the foot of the standings following Reading’s win.

Hull City secured a place in the Premier League for next season earlier on Saturday after drawing 2-2 at home to already-promoted Cardiff City on the final day of the Championship season.

Watford, Brighton and Hove Albion, Crystal Palace and Leicester City will contest the play-offs.