HT Wigan 0-0 Burnley: relegation scrap all square at the break
Published 15:58 20/03/10 By MirrorFootball
Relegation strugglers Wigan and Burnley cancelled each other out in a frenetic, but relatively featureless first-half at the DW Stadium.
The Clarets initially flew out of the traps with a series of shots in the opening five minutes that tested Wigan defensively.
After standing firm, the Latics created the most meaningful chance of the opening 45 minutes when Gary Caldwell struck the right-hand post with a firm header.
Wigan captain Mario Melchiot made a surprise return to the line-up after missing the 2-1 midweek defeat to Aston Villa at the DW Stadium with a thigh injury.
Melchiot was not expected to be fit for today's game, but replaced Emmerson Boyce in one of two changes with Paul Scharner also in for Charles N'Zogbia who was sidelined with a hip injury.
Under-pressure Burnley boss Brian Laws, with nine defeats in his 11 games in charge to date, made four changes to his side after last weekend's 2-1 loss at home to Wolves.
Leading scorer Steven Fletcher returned after recovering from a broken hand, along with Kevin McDonald in midfield after shaking off a bad back.
Laws was also forced into two defensive changes, with Stephen Jordan and Michael Duff replacing Danny Fox (rib) and Clarke Carlisle (toe).
Searching for their first away win of the season, Burnley made a remarkably bright start as they peppered Chris Kirkland's goal with an array of shots inside the opening five minutes.
Graham Alexander, Fletcher, David Nugent, Martin Paterson and Wade Elliott all tried their luck from a variety of distances and angles.
But the Latics stood firm, noticeably with Titus Bramble and Gary Caldwell making brave and important blocks to thwart the Clarets' early onslaught, leaving Kirkland to make just one save that was comfortably dealt with.
After steadying the ship, Bramble somehow avoided a yellow card in the 16th minute after scything down Nugent and leaving the Burnley striker requiring treatment.
Two minutes later and Wigan came within a whisker of taking the lead thanks to skipper Alexander's attempted pass back to Brian Jensen running wide for a corner. There was an exchange of views between the two.
From James McCarthy's outswinging corner, Caldwell outjumped a number of players from both sides to plant a firm header that beat Jensen, only to strike the right post before Burnley cleared their lines.
If Bramble was fortunate earlier to avoid being cautioned, Michael Duff then escaped censure for planting a deliberate elbow in the face of Scharner after the ball had been played, felling the Austrian.
Unlike the earlier challenge when referee Mike Jones chose to take no action, the Chester official appeared not to see the second incident.
Scharner, who was also injured after running into Duff, was eventually substituted in the 34th minute by Jason Scotland as manager Roberto Martinez switched to a more attacking line-up.
That was at a time when Wigan were starting to gain a foothold in the game, putting the visitors under pressure, albeit without creating any chances.
They remained in the ascendancy for the closing 11 minutes of the half, but did not once test Jensen.
