• Wigan Athletic defied the odds to draw 0-0 against League One leaders Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
• Latics matched their in-form opponents throughout and had enough chances to take all three points.
• Jon Mellish and Reggie Walsh both went close in the first half for Latics and Mason Burstow hit the woodwork for the hosts.
• In the second half Morgan Fox had a great opportunity deflected over the crossbar and Jensen Weir hit the post.
• Substitute Harry Gray had a late opportunity for Wednesday but Latics deservedly held on for a confidence building point.
• Latics move off the bottom of the League One table and Wednesday remain top.

Gary Caldwell made three changes to his starting line-up from the defeat against Stockport County with Jon Mellish, Fraser Murray and Sonny Perkins replacing Archie Harris, Connor Barrett and Dara Costelloe.

Latics had an early scare when Burstow hit the post from a tight angle.

But the visitors responded well and soon afterwards Reggie Walsh’s dangerous cross was deflected over the crossbar by Wednesday captain Liam Cooper.

Wednesday threatened next through the lively Kieran Morrison who forced a good save from Whitworth before Yann Valery headed wide of the target on 18 minutes.

Murray’s dangerous cross found Mellish in the box but his effort was blocked by a Wednesday defender on 24 minutes.

Walsh had an effort saved at the near post by Joe Lumley before at the other end Morrison forced a save from Whitworth on 32 minutes.

Mellish continued to get forward to good effect and he had another opportunity on 40 minutes but his strike was well parried for a corner by Lumley.

Just before half-time Valery had a shot well saved by Whitworth before Barry Bannan blazed wide.

Early in the second half Walsh was booked for a foul on Bannan before Cooper was yellow carded for a foul on Sonny Perkins.

Soon afterwards Latics should’ve been ahead. Weir’s strike cannoned off the post and into the path of Walsh but he was unable to convert the follow up, although Perkins was adjudged to have been offside.

Latics continued to create chances and Chelsea loanee Walsh bent an effort over the crossbar on 64 minutes.

Caldwell introduced new signing Scott Hogan and Dara Costelloe for Perkins and Walsh on 70 minutes as Latics went in search of the victory.

Weir fired over on 70 minutes from outside the box.

Connor Barrett replaced Murray on 84 minutes and Archie Gray replaced Charlie Gray on 87 minutes.

Referee Seb Stockbridge indicated eight minutes of added time. Substitute Harry Gray had a late opportunity for the hosts before the visitors substitute Hogan’s strike at goal was blocked in the 98th minute and the points had to be shared.

Overview

This was an impressive performance by Caldwell’s young side against the current league leaders.

Given Latics recent drubbing by Stockport many people had predicted that they would be brushed aside by leaders Sheffield Wednesday who had recently put seven goals past Bromley.

But Latics had matched their high-flying opponents throughout and they could easily have taken all three points.

If only they could take their chances in games they would now be sitting comfortably in mid-table.

It is to be hoped that new signing Scott Hogan can take the future chances when they come along. Hogan is an experienced striker who has commanded high transfer fees in the past but it remains to be seen whether he is capable of doing a job for Latics. He has until January to prove himself or Latics will be forced to enter the transfer market for another striker.

Caldwell had got his tactics right this time after the debacle against Stockport. Jensen Weir was tasked with nullifying the threat of Barry Bannan and it worked a treat as the Scottish midfielder was unable to unlock a well-drilled Latics defence.

The question now is, can Caldwell’s young side maintain this high level of performance against Wycombe Wanderers at the Brick Community Stadium next Saturday?

Post-match comments

Speaking to the media afterwards Caldwell said:

“I’m delighted with the performance. Seven days ago, we were standing here after a heavy defeat – a really low moment – and the recovery the team has made was outstanding.

“To play with the character and personality we did today was brilliant, and I think we should have won the game.

“That being said, from where we were last week, it’s a huge step forward. It’s our first clean sheet of the season, and our performance level, if we maintain that, we will win a lot of football matches.

“As low as we were to lose last weekend, you have to be humble and do something about it, and we did something about it today, and we’ve responded in the perfect way with a proper performance.

“We looked like men today, and I keep saying we are a young team, but we played like men, and I thought the players were excellent.”

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