Wigan Athletic 0 Portsmouth 0: match report

14 April 2010 22:09
Wigan failed to secure the crucial victory against Portsmouth that would have banished their relegation fears, despite Avram Grant's decision to omit eight of the players who guided the relegated outfit to the FA Cup final. [LNB]Roberto Martinez's team extended the gap between themselves and the bottom three to five points following this uninspiring stalemate, but they will look back on this result as costly dropped points if they become mired in the relegation battle over the final month of the season. [LNB]Having issued a veiled threat last month to field weakened teams in protest at the club being deducted nine points for entering administration, [LNB]Portsmouth manager Grant prove true to his word by making eight changes from the team that started Sunday's FA Cup semi-final victory against Tottenham at Wembley. [LNB]Grant handed Premier League debuts to youngsters Joel Ward and Matt Ritchie and only chose to name four substitutes, none being a goalkeeper, rather than the full allocation of seven. [LNB]Having punished Wolves with a suspended fine of £25,000 for making 10 changes prior to their defeat at Manchester United in December, the Premier League are unlikely to hit Portsmouth harder than the Molineux club. [LNB]But with Wigan starting the game in 17th position, just one place above the bottom three, Grant's decision to make such wholesale changes is unlikely to be viewed favourably by the likes of West Ham, Bolton, Hull and Burnley. [LNB]Despite Portsmouth's under-strength line-up, however, Wigan were left to toil as they struggled to make headway against their already-relegated opponents. [LNB]The home side created enough opportunities to take the lead, but their finishing was too often wayward and careless. [LNB]Austrian midfielder Paul Scharner proved the biggest culprit for Roberto Martinez's team, directing two good chances over the bar and needlessly straying offside before converting a Charles N'Zogbia cross which was correctly ruled out on 43 minutes. [LNB]Scharner's frustration appeared to boil over at the interval as he left the field deep in argument with midfielder James McCarthy before being ushered away by defender Titus Bramble. [LNB]Wigan continued to dominate possession in the second-half, but they lacked the creativity to test Portsmouth. Jason Scotland sent their only real chance wide when he headed Maynor Figueroa's cross beyond the far post on 61 minutes. [LNB]But as the game headed into its closing stages, Portsmouth keeper Jamie Ashdown was forced into a crucial save to keep out McCarthy's low strike from 20 yards. [LNB]

Source: Telegraph