Although the Dutchman made contact with the ball and not the player, Riley deemed the tackle dangerous and immediately sent Melchiot off.

The veteran defender is now facing a three-match ban, meaning he will sit out key fixtures with Bolton, Blackburn and Fulham.

But Bruce has not given up on the prospect of launching an appeal.

“We might have to,” he said.

“I can understand why the referee gave his decision because it looks like a stamp.

“But it was a 50-50 challenge and Mario has not gone over the ball even though he has shown his studs.”

Melchiot’s unscheduled exit completed an eventful first match in charge for Bruce.

After spending all week trying to raise spirits around the JJB Stadium, his work was almost undone after 28 seconds when Titus Bramble’s woeful clearance gifted Geovanni the fastest Barclays Premier League goal of the season.

“I remember my debut for Norwich against Liverpool,” said Bruce.

“I had just gone there from Gillingham and wanted to make a big impression. I headed one into my own net inside the first 30 seconds.

“It was as bad as that. I certainly could not have imagined a worse start.

“It was horrific but in fairness the lads could have folded but they had the courage to make a fist of it after that.”

Paul Scharner levelled for the Latics midway through the opening period and Wigan looked the more likely winners afterwards.

In the end, they had to settle for a point, which did end an eight-match losing sequence and means top-four hopefuls City have still not won an away game since the opening day.

Bruce did have some good news to report on record signing Emile Heskey, who, on his first start since breaking a foot in September, went off after an hour holding his hamstring.

There was instant fear among the Wigan faithful that Heskey could be set for another extended spell on the sidelines, although it appears that is not the case.

“I think Emile might be okay,” said Bruce.

“He has been out for two and a half months and the big target was 70 minutes. But he is a big powerful boy and he has done well to last an hour.”

City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson refused to blame an injury to Javier Garrido for his side’s failure to protect their lead.

Garrido never fully recovered after taking a hefty bang on the head in a challenge with Antonio Valencia.

Eriksson was still deciding whether to take Garrido off when Scharner scored and with the Spanish full-back eventually being taken to hospital as a precaution, it suggests the Blues bench may have made a mistake.

“The communication was not that easy and it was difficult to find out how he was,” said Eriksson.

“At half-time he did not look perfect, that is for sure.”

Eriksson admitted he is non-plussed as to why City have a 100% record at home but struggle for victories away from Eastlands.

However, as his side have lost all four previous Premier League encounters with their north-west neighbours, the Swede could at least take solace in avoiding another setback.

“We haven’t got a point against them in two years, so at least we have one now,” he said.

“I don’t have the answer to why we play better at home than away but I wish we could. We have the quality.”