Relegation-battlers Wigan were pegged back three times by a Tottenham side chasing a Uefa Cup berth in a rollercoaster game at the JJB Stadium. Emile Heskey nodded Wigan ahead from point-blank range but Dimitar Berbatov skilfully fired in to equalise.

A superb Leighton Baines shot restored Wigan's lead only for Spurs to level again through a Robbie Keane penalty.

Kevin Kilbane headed Wigan's third but Keane pounced after a Matt Jackson error as the spoils were shared.

You can usually bank on goals when Spurs play this season and the game proved symptomatic of a team that had scored 44 and conceded 45 goals going into the match.

Wigan took the lead after only two minutes when the visitors, who have kept only five clean sheets in the league during the current campaign, dithered in clearing a free-kick.

The ball pin-balled around a crowded penalty area and Heskey nodded in after some head tennis with fellow striker Henri Camara.

But the lead lasted less than two minutes as Berbatov received a Keane pass with his back to goal, danced into some space and fired in an early shot with the outside of his right-foot.

The pace of the match was fast and furious, with Tottenham's slick passing and the direct game of Wigan proving to be an enthralling spectacle.

Both teams had close escapes before Wigan regained the lead when Baines steered in a shot from the left edge of the penalty area.

But Wigan have consistently failed to hold on to leads this season and this weakness was once more exposed.

Jermaine Jenas broke through on goal and, despite being pushed outside the area, referee Graham Poll awarded a penalty for the midfielder being caught by keeper John Filan.

Keane coolly tucked home the penalty before Wigan wasted a glorious chance just before the interval.

Paul Scharner's diving header was well saved by keeper Paul Robinson and Kilbane headed over with a gaping goal in front of him.

Kilbane atoned for his miss when he headed in from eight yards shortly after Denny Landzaat and Scharner had gone close for the home side early in the second half.

Wigan boss Paul Jewell was then left fuming when Jackson missed a long Spurs clearance and Keane caught Filan well out of his goal and volleyed over the keeper.

Ex-Wigan defender Pascal Chimbonda almost stole the points for Spurs late on but Filan saved his angled shot as both sides had to settle for a point.