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Wigan 0-0 Aston Villa | Wigan 0-0 Aston Villa |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Wigan recorded a first ever Premiership goalless draw despite dominating the action against a limited Aston Villa. | Wigan recorded a first ever Premiership goalless draw despite dominating the action against a limited Aston Villa. |
Lee McCulloch saw an early header well parried by Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen and Paul Scharner went close on a couple of occasions for the hosts. | Lee McCulloch saw an early header well parried by Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen and Paul Scharner went close on a couple of occasions for the hosts. |
Early in the second half Villa's Isaiah Osbourne headed an Emmerson Boyce cross on to his own upright as Wigan pressed. | Early in the second half Villa's Isaiah Osbourne headed an Emmerson Boyce cross on to his own upright as Wigan pressed. |
For Villa, Peter Whittingham hit the same post with a first-half effort and Gareth Barry flashed a shot over. | For Villa, Peter Whittingham hit the same post with a first-half effort and Gareth Barry flashed a shot over. |
The result also halted Wigan's run of four successive wins, but their failure to score was not for the want of trying. | The result also halted Wigan's run of four successive wins, but their failure to score was not for the want of trying. |
606 DEBATE: Give your thoughts on this match | 606 DEBATE: Give your thoughts on this match |
Within a minute of the start Sorensen was called on to make a reaction save as McCulloch met Henri Camara's right-wing cross with a firm header. | Within a minute of the start Sorensen was called on to make a reaction save as McCulloch met Henri Camara's right-wing cross with a firm header. |
And in a vibrant opening, midfielder Scharner soon had his first sight of goal, dragging a rifled, low shot from the edge of the area narrowly wide of the target. | And in a vibrant opening, midfielder Scharner soon had his first sight of goal, dragging a rifled, low shot from the edge of the area narrowly wide of the target. |
McCulloch headed over from Gary Teale's cross and the Scot's strike partner Camara proved a nuisance down the middle. | McCulloch headed over from Gary Teale's cross and the Scot's strike partner Camara proved a nuisance down the middle. |
But while the nimble-footed Senegalese striker's twisting and turning tormented Villa and created good openings, he had the poise and touch of a pinball paddle in front of goal, skewing two shots well wide. | But while the nimble-footed Senegalese striker's twisting and turning tormented Villa and created good openings, he had the poise and touch of a pinball paddle in front of goal, skewing two shots well wide. |
The best effort that Villa could muster in the first-half came when Whittingham hit a bobbling shot from outside the box on to the woodwork. | The best effort that Villa could muster in the first-half came when Whittingham hit a bobbling shot from outside the box on to the woodwork. |
That same post came to Villa's rescue after the break as Wigan again flew out of the blocks. | That same post came to Villa's rescue after the break as Wigan again flew out of the blocks. |
Osbourne's ill-advised and mis-directed defensive header from Boyce's searching cross diverted the ball on to the frame of his own goal with Sorensen flat-footed. | Osbourne's ill-advised and mis-directed defensive header from Boyce's searching cross diverted the ball on to the frame of his own goal with Sorensen flat-footed. |
Villa cleared the rebound, but before long the Danish stopper was called on to deny Scharner. | Villa cleared the rebound, but before long the Danish stopper was called on to deny Scharner. |
The Austrian ghosted into the box to get on the end of Josip Skoko's threaded through ball, but after a good first touch his second was smothered by Sorensen. | The Austrian ghosted into the box to get on the end of Josip Skoko's threaded through ball, but after a good first touch his second was smothered by Sorensen. |
As in the first-half, despite bossing possesion, Wigan struggled to carve more clear-cut openings. | As in the first-half, despite bossing possesion, Wigan struggled to carve more clear-cut openings. |
Villa, missing Stilian Petrov's prompting presence in midfield, played on the break but Barry's rising shot, after a deft stepover from Chris Sutton, was their only real effort on goal before a late rally. | Villa, missing Stilian Petrov's prompting presence in midfield, played on the break but Barry's rising shot, after a deft stepover from Chris Sutton, was their only real effort on goal before a late rally. |
On this occasion it was the turn of Wigan's rearguard to stand firm at two successive corners and secure that first goalless draw in their 50th top-flight outing. | On this occasion it was the turn of Wigan's rearguard to stand firm at two successive corners and secure that first goalless draw in their 50th top-flight outing. |
The point, Villa's fourth away from home, means Martin O'Neill's obdurate side missed the chance to go third and stay fifth in the table. | The point, Villa's fourth away from home, means Martin O'Neill's obdurate side missed the chance to go third and stay fifth in the table. |
"All that was missing for the icing on the cake was a goal or goals. We missed some good chances but that happens. | |
"We were great and for a 0-0 it was a good game. At least we are creating chances and do look like we can score goals, although not on this occasion." | |
"They were miles better than us in the first half, but after half-time we came into it more and looked more dangerous. | |
"But it would have been harsh on Wigan if we had sneaked the three points, so overall I think we have done well." |