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Latics pressed and pressed looking for that final moment of magic that served them so well against Birmingham City at the DW Stadium a fortnight ago but it didn’t come, instead Roberto Martinez’s side had to settle for a point, and an important one at that.
Chances came and went, particularly for the home side, but they just lacked that killer-touch to find a way past Heurelho Gomes.
Conor Sammon came closes for Latics in the second-half, finding a yard of space inside the area and aiming for the bottom right corner, denied by the out-stretched arm of the Spurs ‘keeper who collected the resulting loose ball.
In the dying moments Sammon almost turned provider, crossing low for Franco Di Santo who just couldn’t reach the cross to score, an agonising moment for the home crowd.
It was another patient, calculated performance from Latics, maintaining possession and trying to dissect their opponents rather than barge them down.
Charles N’Zogbia was a constant threat, the ball glued to his feet at time and the Spurs defence were scared of him. Shortly after the break the Frenchman broke into the area after dispossessing Benoit Assou-Ekotto and fired for the bottom corner only to be denied by a smart Gomes save.
Gomes was on hand to save Spurs again on 55 minutes when Tom Cleverley bent one for the far corner, prevented by a fine save.
Spurs were slow from the off in both halves but once they found momentum Latics did well to soak up the pressure and frustrate the Champions League Quarter Finalists.
Gary Caldwell and Antolin Alcaraz had their work cut out for them but good support from Ben Watson helped to keep Spurs at bay.
Ali Al Habsi made a number of solid claims from crosses and was only really called upon once, in the first-half, getting down well to prevent a Jermaine Jenas effort.
More points on the board then for Latics who stay right in the fight for survival and prepare for a trip to Chelsea next weekend.
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Jermaine Defoe
Peter Crouch
Gary Caldwell
