Wigan Athletic 0 Bolton Wanderers 0

WIGAN ATHLETIC

If you look at the stats for this game you would have thought Latics would have cruised to another great win over the Trotters. Shots on target 6 (Bolton 1), shots off target 9 (6), blocked shots 10 (3), corners 9 (6), possession 56% (44%) and territorial advantage 60 % (40%) [figures from SKY].

The game was very similar to Blackburn where we did create lots of chances (see stats) but with some good defending and some exceptional saves from Jasskelainen, Latics were once again left goalless.

Wigan was by far the best team in the first half with Rodallega, Mido, N’Zogbia and Valencia. Rodallega forced a great save within the first 3 minutes, the Bolton goalkeeper at full stretch to palm the Colombian striker’s effort onto the post.

N’zogbia was the next to go close as he drove a shot towards the bottom corner, but yet again the Bolton stopper was able to get his fingertips to it and put it out for a corner. Bolton did give us a scare a s a deflected shot looped up on to the crossbar.

Valencia was up for the game as well, he provided Rodallega his second gilt edged chance of the afternoon, but his effort was saved again. Mido tried to get himself on the score sheet but he was victim to Jasskelainen’s next bit of heroics as yet again he pulled off a fantastic save.

The second half took a change in fortune as Latics had to change half their defence around within 8 minutes of the restart. Melchiot was replaced by Boyce and Erik Edman came on for the injured Paul Scharner.

The second half saw the same pattern as the first with Latics still enjoying good possession and still creating the better chances, but the shot quality was starting to get on the home fans nerves as chance after chance were squandered.

Both Brown and Cattermole were guilty of not testing the keeper from less than 20 yards on many occasions, whilst Mido and Rodallega both couldn’t hit the target from just 8-10 yards. Whenever we did get a shot on target, the defence or keeper managed to block or clear it.

In the end it was a very frustrating day again for the fans as they saw their team do enough to win comfortably, but we are in danger now of letting the season fizzle out and it would be a great shame for us to throw away such a good position we had in January.

The next game is against West Brom and that could be nightmare with the prospect that we could be sending them down.

Report by Jason Taylor