Wigan 0-0 Millwall: Match Report

21 October 2014 09:01
Wigan 0-0 Millwall: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game as it happened.


Wigan held at home by Millwall

Wigan were held to a third home stalemate in a row - and their fourth draw in total - after failing to break down resolute Millwall in a 0-0 result in the Sky Bet Championship.

Uwe Rosler's side thoroughly dominated a disappointing encounter at the DW Stadium in windy conditions, but once again lacked the guile or the cunning to craft what would have been a much-needed winning goal.

Second-half substitute Callum McManaman came closest to breaking the deadlock within moments of his introduction, only to hit the bar with Millwall goalkeeper David Forde well beaten.

At the other end, Millwall will point to a gilt-edged opportunity for Ricardo Fuller just after the restart, only for the veteran hitman to mis-control with only goalkeeper Scott Carson to beat.

Wigan had been gifted an opportunity inside the opening skirmishes, only for James McClean to fire into the side-netting after Forde had fluffed his lines.

The Ireland stopper did much better moments later when he tipped over a lovely, curling effort from Shaun Maloney that seemed destined for the top corner.

Midfielder Adam Forshaw was next to try his luck, but pulled his effort well wide of the upright.

Millwall showed themselves for the first time when Scott McDonald unleashed an effort from 30 yards that Carson did very well to hold on to on the stretch.

And that was about it for a first half that saw Wigan desperately trying to take the initiative and ask the questions, with the visitors content to sit back and deal - comfortably, it has to be said - with what was being thrown at them.

Wigan thought they had taken the lead at the start of the second period through Oriol Riera, only for Marc-Antoine Fortune to have been flagged offside in the build-up when he picked up Maloney's deflected shot.

Having soaked up everything Wigan had to offer, the visitors could and perhaps should have taken the lead through Fuller.

The big striker found himself completely unmarked from Lee Martin's free-kick, but failed to take full advantage with only Carson standing between him and the opener.

At the other end, Riera tried his luck with a shot that was not helped by a deflection off a defender that took it right down the throat of Forde.

Wigan sent on top-scorer McManaman to try to find their missing spark, and he nearly provided it with his very first touch.

The young forward sent over a dipping effort from the right-hand side that flew over the head of Forde, only to bounce back off the crossbar and away from the danger area.

And not even the late introduction of Honduras World Cup star Roger Espinoza could tip the balance in Wigan's favour, with Maloney sending their last chance - a quickly-taken free-kick - well over the bar.


Source: PA