Mario Melchiot admitted Wigan were left reeling by Martin Petrov's equaliser that secured Manchester City a draw.

Charles N'Zogbia put Wigan ahead moments before the interval but City levelled through Petrov just 63 seconds after the break.

The visitors, who had Pablo Zabaleta sent off for two yellow cards, held out as the Latics made it four points from their fixtures against Chelsea and Manchester City.

"In the last 10 minutes we gave our best to win the game and we're disappointed we didn't," Melchiot told Sky Sports.

"Conceding so early in the second half was like a sucker punch because those first 20 minutes are so important. But we kept going.

"Overall we're trying to progress day by day. These are the kind of teams you have to respect.

"We just have to keep performing like this. When the big boys come we try to play with them.

"But we need to win the games against the teams around us. We have to focus on those matches more than the ones at the top."

It was Wigan's first Barclays Premier League draw of the season but manager Roberto Martinez felt they should have been celebrating a fourth victory.

"We were playing against a very talented side and I felt we stopped them from playing," he told Sky Sports 1.

"Going down to 10 men probably gave them a reason to get very solid behind the ball. It was a very entertaining game between two teams who wanted to win.

"I felt in every department we deserved to win but I'm very happy with the performance.

"We've created a great environment here and that's important. Hopefully we'll fulfil our potential soon."

City boss Mark Hughes refused to condemn referee Alan Wiley for declining to give Shaun Wright-Phillips a penalty after the England winger was felled by Maynor Figueroa.

Wiley was branded "unfit" by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson two weeks ago but Hughes had no such complaints, although he claimed a spot-kick should have been awarded.

"I thought it was a nailed-on penalty but in fairness to Mr Wiley he was right on the spot and had kept up with play," he told Sky Sports.

"He had the opportunity to make a good decision but maybe in his defence he though the defender had knocked the ball into touch when in fact it was Wright-Phillips.

"It was an obvious penalty but these things happen very fast. I have no criticism of Alan Wiley's athleticism today."