Jewell lauds his Latics as Sorensen saves Villa

WIGAN manager Paul Jewell could not fault his side despite the Latics producing their first goalless draw in the Premiership at the 50th time of asking.

Wigan were last involved in a scoreless encounter in April last year, with QPR providing the opposition in the Coca-Cola Championship. On this occasion, Jewell was left scratching his head at how his side failed to convert at least one of their chances as they dominated their JJB Stadium clash with high-flying Aston Villa.

The tone was set after just 48 seconds when Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen produced a point-blank save to deny striker Lee McCulloch, in attack for the injured Emile Heskey.

After the break it was more of the same, with Wigan denied by the woodwork early on, when Isaiah Osbourne’s clearing diving header hit the inside of the post before Liam Ridgewell cleared the danger.

Jewell said: “I thought we were terrific. In the first half that’s as well as we have played in the Premiership. We were really good, and all that was missing for the icing on the cake was a goal or goals.”

WIGAN: Kirkland, Boyce, De Zeeuw, Jackson, Wright, Teale (Cotterill 76), Skoko (Landzaat 78), Scharner, Kilbane, Camara, McCulloch.

ASTON VILLA: Sorensen, Mellberg, Cahill, Ridgewell, Bouma, Agbonlahor, Osbourne, Barry, Whittingham (Agathe 51), Sutton, Angel (Davis 67).

Referee: S Bennett (Kent).