Charles N'Zogbia hit the post as Premier League relegation rivals
Wigan and Bolton fought out a drab 0-0 draw at the DW Stadium.
Wigan forward N'Zogbia went the closest of either side to
settling a scrappy encounter after a smart run early in the first
half.
The point was enough to lift both struggling sides up places
in the table - Wigan to 14th and Bolton 18th - but both may rue
missed opportunities to break the deadlock in a game of few
chances.
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez again kept new signing Victor
Moses waiting for his first start but did hand a full debut to
on-loan Bolivian forward Marcelo Moreno.
With in-form James McCarthy also proving his fitness to
feature, Wigan hoped to take the game to their rivals but Bolton
proved predictably dogged opponents.
Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander offered a threat for Bolton
up front but both were frustrated in their efforts. The rearranged
match, postponed in December due to wintry weather, was never
destined to be a classic on another freezing cold night that saw
snow greet kick-off.
The combination of both sides' desperation for points and the
battered pitch suggested a scrappy encounter from the start. And so
it proved with the early stages setting the tone for an attritional
affair.
Lee Chung-Yong briefly looked dangerous on the Bolton right
and twice delivered testing crosses. The first was just diverted
away from Davies by McCarthy and the second resulted in a shot into
the stand by Ricardo Gardner.
Hugo Rodallega had Wigan's first opening but Jussi
Jaaskelainen rushed out to meet him.
N'Zogbia almost opened the scoring with the first moment of
real quality in the match. The England-qualified Frenchman
brilliantly cut inside two defenders after 20 minutes but his
curling effort clipped the post. Bolton striker Elmander then found
space outside the Wigan area but shot wide of the target.
McCarthy turned neatly to create a chance for Wigan but
Jaaskelainen was not troubled by his shot. Play switched to the
other end again with Lee breaking clear but this time Gary Caldwell
headed his cross behind for a corner.
Rodallega twice failed to make the most of openings close to
half-time. The Colombian dwelt too long after a superb ball into
the box from Titus Bramble and he again failed to shoot after
Mohamed Diame picked up the attack. McCarthy also had a shot
blocked as Bolton scrambled clear.
Elmander exploited space down the right early in the second
half but his cross was turned into the side-netting by Caldwell.
Martinez opted to introduce more firepower after 51 minutes by
replacing defender Bramble with striker Jason Scotland. Rodallega
headed wide from an N'Zogbia cross but the game generally remained
scrappy as both sides struggled to make the breakthrough.
It was some time before either side created another
opportunity, it finally coming when Fabrice Muamba shot wide from
distance after 67 minutes.
Bolton boss Owen Coyle attempted to break the stalemate by
introducing on-loan Manchester City midfielder Vladimir Weiss and
the move almost paid off instantly.
Davies and Elmander both headed on a long ball and Weiss came
rushing in to shoot narrowly wide with his first touch. Elmander
then played Matt Taylor in on goal moments later but he also failed
to hit the target. Martinez decided to throw Moses into action with
11 minutes remaining but it was Rodallega who next threatened from
an overhead kick that flew over.
Chris Kirkland then blocked a Davies effort and Taylor again
shot wide when well placed. N'Zogbia burst forward as Wigan tried
to finish with a flourish but Rodallega shot into the side-netting
with two minutes remaining.
