The Black Cats knew that only a victory would keep their slim hopes of automatic promotion alive, but they rarely threatened.
Wigan had the better of what chances there were, although neither side could argue with the draw.
Both sides started brightly and they traded long-range sighters which failed to bother either goalkeeper.
Marcus Stewart had one of the best chances of the half when he just miscontrolled after dribbling into the Wigan box.
The was no shortage of effort in the opening 45 minutes but a distinct lack of goalmouth action.
The second half was generally the same although there were more incidents of note as both sides went for the win.
Jason Roberts only just failed to find his strike partner Nathan Ellington with his through ball from a swift counter attack.
Kevin Kyle responded quickly and he flashed a powerful shot just over the crossbar from just outside the box.
Roberts looked dangerous again on 55 minutes when he drove powerfully into the box but his woeful left-footed effort was deflected over.
The resulting corner was partially cleared and the header back in found Roberts breaking free of the offside trap and he lifted the ball over the advancing Mart Poom, only for Gary Breen to clear the ball off the line.
John Oster then fired in a low free kick 25 yards out and John Filan had to scramble across his goal to tip the ball around the post one-handed.
Ellington wasted another great chance as he skewed his shot over the ball after Roberts had burst into the box and had his shot saved by Poom.
