Spurs fans are fretting they will miss out on Europe's premier competition yet again as they stayed fifth and missed the chance to jump into third with four games left, behind second-placed Manchester City who beat West Ham United 2-1.
Liverpool, in seventh position, recorded the biggest victory of the day as Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson scored twice in a 6-0 rout at struggling Newcastle United.
"It should have been three points. I thought the performance was magnificent from start to finish," Wigan manager Roberto Martinez told Sky Sports.
"We gave them a goal but then we deservedly got back in front. To keep a Spurs team so quiet, they only had threats from dead ball situations, is great. We dropped two points but we couldn't have done anything more."
Wigan's Honduran defender Maynor Figueroa casually passed back to goalkeeper Joel Robles who fired the ball against the onrushing Bale and watched it fly into the goal.
Roberto Mancini's side, who lost their title to Manchester United on Monday, took a large step towards securing an automatic Champions League berth next season.
"We needed to respond like this after the 3-1 defeat by Tottenham," right-back Pablo Zabaleta said. "We need to try to finish second."
West Ham, who netted in stoppage time when Andy Carroll's firm shot rolled through keeper Joe Hart's legs, are not mathematically free from relegation but have no realistic worries in 10th position.
