Wigan 0-0 Norwich: Latics fail to take their chances as goalkeeper Angus Gunn helps Canaries secure draw

Angus Gunn was in excellent form for Norwich as they secured a point at Wigan

Wigan were left ruing their inability to capitalise on a series of Norwich mistakes as they made it four games unbeaten under new manager Shaun Maloney.

The Canaries, who had won four of their previous six Championship away games, were sloppy in possession in the first half, handing two clear chances to Will Keane and another to Callum Lang, all squandered by the Latics' front men.

Norwich improved after the break after manager David Wagner reacted to the opening 45 minutes with a triple substitution at half-time, but Grant Hanley's header from a Gabriel Sara corner was off target.

Wigan substitute Steven Caulker then produced an important tackle to halt Adam Idah's burst forwards, but Norwich failed to work Wigan keeper Ben Amos at all, while Canaries stopper Angus Gunn was the visitors' man of the match.

The stalemate was not much good to either team, with Norwich missing a chance to reclaim a play-off place against struggling opponents, while wins for Huddersfield and Blackpool mean that Wigan, despite their recent improvement, go back to the bottom of the table.

Wigan were applauded off by their fans after restricting the Canaries to just one shot on target, but the loss of key defender Jack Whatmough through injury will not help their fight against relegation.

Gunn denied the home side the three points, making three big saves in the first half.

The first came after Callum Lang had muscled Hanley off the ball and shot through the keeper's legs with Gunn just getting enough on the ball to stop it squeezing through into the net.

More dodgy defending saw Andrew Omobamidele play a dreadful pass to Kenny McLean, who failed to control it giving Will Keane a clear sight of goal - but he could only fire straight at Gunn.

Wigan's hat-trick of chances was complete when Gunn's poor clearance went straight to Lang before Gunn made amends by blocking his shot only for Keane to screw the rebound over the bar.

Wigan manager Shaun Maloney told BBC Radio Manchester:

"We had to defend in the second half but I don't think we gave up many opportunities.

"We were very good first half and the biggest disappointment is not going in 2-0 or 3-0 up, and they were really good opportunities as well.

"Then in the last 20 minutes we had to defend, and showed another side. The players were excellent, and the difference between a good performance and a very good one was that final third, how clinical we were with the chances.

"You could see in the last ten minutes the team was very tired, we dropped deeper and had to defend but the back five worked incredibly hard."

Norwich head coach David Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk:

"Our weakness today was that we were not able to create clear-cut chances. We took too long until we really had some moments in ball possession - in the first half we more or less had nothing.

"In the second half it was better, but without the clear-cut chances, so obviously we are not happy with our performance. We know we can play better, in ball possession.

"If we have to speak of positives, there were not a lot but obviously the clean sheet and our goalkeeper Gunn was outstanding. The players fought until the end and our away support - so we had some positives."