Wigan Athletic 0-0 Brentford

  • Published
Uwe RoslerImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Wigan boss Uwe Rosler was manager of Brentford between 2011 and 2013.

Wigan and Brentford took a point each as Latics boss Uwe Rosler's first game against his old side ended goalless.

Moses Odubajo had an early shot well saved by Wigan goalkeeper Scott Carson.

Brentford's David Button was called into action, touching Shaun Maloney's shot round the post, before Andre Gray wasted two opportunities for the Bees.

Carson saved well from Jota after the break and late on James McClean headed James Tavernier's cross over the bar from a good position for Wigan.

Media caption,

Rosler on Wigan v Brentford

Odubajo saw two early efforts saved by Carson while Wigan created a gilt-edged opportunity on the half-hour mark when Maloney was played in by Oriol Riera and bore in on goal. However, Button stood up well and came up with a vital touch to send it round the post.

Gray raced on to a long ball, past Ivan Ramis, only to lob over Carson and on to the roof of the net. He then volleyed wide from 10 yards after finding himself totally unmarked.

Media caption,

Warburton on Wigan v Brentford

Alex Pritchard's strike from distance forced a good parry over by Carson, who then did even better to deny Jota with a superb tip round the post.

Brentford's Jonathan Douglas fired into the side-netting when he ought to have tested the goalkeeper, although Wigan nearly won it at the death with a simple yet effective move.

Tavernier swung a delightful ball over from the right-hand side, and McClean stole a march on his marker as he attacked it from the opposite flank. The connection was good, but unfortunately for Wigan the ball flew inches over the crossbar and into the stand behind the goal.

Wigan boss Uwe Rosler: "I predicted before the game that the team with the most clinical finishers would win the game, and neither side used their opportunities. In the first half we weren't good enough. In the second half we were slightly better but we have to work on our game.

"I would like to highlight the fact our players could easily have given up in the second half, but they didn't. We looked like we had the momentum at the end but we couldn't score."

Brentford manager Mark Warburton: "I was very pleased with how we controlled the football and I was disappointed we couldn't get our rewards for that. In the second half we knew they'd come out very hard which they did, and the game was more neutral.

But that's how far we've come as we've come as a group of players that we're not happy with a point."

Sorry, we can't display this part of the article any more.