It was a frustrating afternoon for County on Saturday despite making it three unbeaten in the league and a fifth clean sheet of the season, as they were unable to break down a stubborn Wigan Athletic side.
This was the first meeting between the two sides at Edgeley Park since March 2003, when an Andy Welsh goal earned the Hatters a 1-1 draw.
Dave Challinor’s side have enjoyed a bright start to life back in League One, starting the day fifth in the league table after their 2-0 win away to Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday night.
The manager named four changes to his starting eleven from that win, with Ibby Touray, Louie Barry and Kyle Wootton back in the fray, whilst Jay Mingi returned for his first start for County since our win over Bristol Rovers back in August. Tanto Olaofe and Jayden Fevrier dropped to the bench with Nick Powell and Odin Bailey back amongst the subs.
Wigan came into the match with an impressive defensive record, keeping a clean sheet in each of their five previous games, although in three of those fixtures they also failed to score and have only managed nine themselves all season.
A cagey start to the match was brought to life when James Carragher, son of former Liverpool player Jamie, was booked for a late foul on Ibby Touray, adding a spark to the Edgeley Park atmosphere in an otherwise forgettable first-half.
County’s first sight at goal came in the 15th minute when Jay Mingi went on a driving run down the right, sending in a low cross which missed Kyle Wootton but found Louie Barry, however, his effort was blocked by a Wigan defender.
The visitors then followed that with their first sight at goal three minutes later, Ethan Pye giving the ball away inside his own half, leading to Dale Taylor getting a shot away that was well saved by Corey Addai.
There were few opportunities of note from that point, and it was clear to see why Wigan had conceded so few in recent weeks; but also why they had struggled at the other end, offering little as an attacking outfit.
Lewis Firoini had a sight of goal five minutes before half time, Louie Barry finding the former Manchester City man in space in the final third, but his effort went high and wide.
The visitors looked to cause problems of their own when Luke Chambers appeared to have left Jay Mingi scampering after bursting down the left-hand side of the pitch and into the box, but the defender made a fantastic recovery tackle to send the ball out for a corner.
Wigan did have the ball in the back of the net in first-half stoppage time, Norweigan Thelo Aasgaard firing home from a corner, but it was ruled out for a handball in the build-up.
Half-Time: County 0, Wigan Athletic 0.
A goalless half prompted Dave Challinor to make a triple change at the break, with Nick Powell, Odin Bailey and Callum Connolly all coming on for Lewis Fiorini, Jack Diamond and Jay Mingi.
Bailey had an immediate impact on the game, cutting inside and playing in Barry, whose effort was blocked by a Wigan defender.
Louie Barry then had the first real sight of goal in the 54th minute, after being played in by the impressive Powell. Barry skipped past a lunging tackle from Wigan captain Jason Kerr, shooting hard and low but was kept out by Sam Tickle at his near post.
Another good opportunity came ten minutes later when Callum Camps broke into the box before teeing up Odin Bailey, who drilled one hard and low but was again kept out by Tickle.
Some good play from left to right led to a rare second-half opportunity for Wigan, as Jonny Smith found space in a dangerous area, however, his left-footed shot rolled well wide of the post, not troubling Corey Addai, who had a quiet day in the County goal.
Despite being the better side for large periods, County were unable to create many clear-cut chances as the game wore on. Barry had an opportunity after pouncing on a poor touch from Babajide Adeeko in the Wigan half, hitting a powerful effort from outside the area which was again stopped by the imperious Tickle.
Dave Challinor’s side continued to apply the pressure but were still unable to find a breakthrough, and when Tanto Olaofe’s header in the second minute of additional time was blocked on the line, it was apparent that a draw was inevitable.
Full-Time: County 0-0 Wigan Athletic
Addai: Mingi (Connolly, 46); Horsfall, Pye, Touray, Diamond (Bailey, 46) Camps, Bate (Olaofe, 85); Barry, Fiorini (Powell, 46); Wootton.
Unused Subs: Hinchliffe, Fevrier, Norwood
Booked: Barry, Pye, Camps.
Attendance: 9,995
Reporter: Ben McCarthy
Photographer: Mike Petch
