Wigan Athletic vs Burton Albion. Sky Bet Championship.
DW StadiumAttendance10,430.
Saturday 15 October 2016 19:19, UK
Burton ground out a goalless draw at the DW Stadium to remain unbeaten against Wigan in their history.
Since being elected to the Football League in 1978, Wigan have beaten everyone except the Brewers and that run continued on Saturday.
Lucas Akins had a good early chance for the visitors, but his goal-bound shot was cleared off the line by an alert Dan Burn.
The home side then sprung to life and striker Adam Le Fondre went agonisingly close to scoring. His curling right-foot shot was heading for the far corner but Burton keeper Jon McLaughlin produced a smart fingertip save to deny him.
Chris O'Grady then nearly scored for Burton with what would have been one of the goals of the season. Wigan keeper Adam Bogdan was left in no man's land as he raced out of his area to head clear, only for the ball to fall invitingly at the feet of O'Grady close to the halfway line.
The striker went for goal but Burn timed his run to perfection and cleared the ball off his own line for a second time in the contest.
Three minutes after the restart Will Miller blasted over with an ambitious left-foot strike for the visitors, before Le Fondre tested McLaughlin with a left-foot shot at his near post as Wigan looked to break the deadlock. Moments later Akins drilled a fierce shot straight at Bogdan as the game opened up.
Nick Powell saw his goal-bound free-kick punched away by McLaughlin, but only to Nathan Byrne who volleyed just over with a sweet right-foot effort.
Skipper Stephen Warnock whipped in a delightful cross from the left but former Manchester United man Powell somehow headed wide with the goal at his mercy. It was a glorious chance that went begging.
Jacobs had another gilt-edged chance for Wigan with 13 minutes remaining, but his thunderous shot was palmed away by McLaughlin and it remained goalless.
Wigan manager Gary Caldwell:
"I picked the best team that I felt could win the game. Last time at home Adam [Le Fondre] scored, so it was the right decision. But today we didn't get the goal, so I'll accept the responsibility for that.
"It wasn't the greatest of games. In the first half they [Burton] had the better chances and better spells in the game, but I thought we controlled the second half. We created some great opportunities, but a draw was probably a fair result."
Burton boss Nigel Clough:
"We lost our opportunity to win the game in the first half today. But we still managed to weather a little bit of a storm in the second half. And we also keep a clean sheet, the second on the spin, which was pleasing.
"But we've got to do more to get a goal when we're in control like we were in the first half. We've got to realise that in the first five or 10 minutes of the game that, if that's when you're going to have your [best] spell, we've got to do more to get a goal."
