Wigan Athletic 0 Peterborough 0

Wigan Athletic were held to a 0-0 draw by Peterborough - their third stalemate in a row at the DW - but ended up extending their lead at the top of League One to three points.
James Vaughan making his Latics debutJames Vaughan making his Latics debut
James Vaughan making his Latics debut

Despite the second-half introduction of new signing James Vaughan off the bench, Latics were unable to break down Posh - one of only three sides to have beaten them in the league so far.

The most significant action of the day was elsewhere, with Shrewsbury losing 3-1 at Blackburn, who are now five points off the pace in third.

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In fairness, Latics did everything they could to break the deadlock, and dominated for the majority of a frustrating afternoon.

But Dan Burn and Nick Powell saw shots blocked, while Vaughan saw his couple of efforts well saved by Jonathan Bond.

At the other end, Posh were always dangerous on the break, with Jack Marriott - the division’s top scorer with 17 - dovetailing nicely with Marcus Maddison.

Christian Walton, keeping his seventh league clean sheet in a row, was called upon to twice deny Marriott from close range.

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And when Marriott did find the net in stoppage-time, after Walton parried a shot into his path, Latics were indebted to the assistant referee on the near side for correctly putting her flag up for offside.

A last-gasp Posh winner - as had been the case at the ABAX Stadium back in September - would undoubtedly have been harsh on a Latics side who once again set out their stall from the off.

There was half a shout for a penalty when Will Grigg miskicked into the path of Gavin Massey, whose volley did strike a Posh arm, but it would have been a very soft award and the official waved play on.

Michael Jacobs saw a shot well saved from Bond, after he’d cut in from the left, before Powell led a Latics break and played a neat one-two with Sam Morsy.

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Unfortunately, he was adjudged to have fouled a defender before collecting the return pass.

And there was more frustration when, after a lovely cross from Reece James, both Grigg and Massey were inches away from connecting.

But the visitors also threatened towards the end of the half, with Maddison sending an acrobatic volley well wide, before Chey Dunkley did incredibly well to hook the ball away from Marriott at the near post as the striker sensed a tap-in

Latics started the second period the way they’d started the first, on the front foot, with centre-back Burn marauding forward and unleashing a stinging strike that was blocked away for a corner.

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The resulting corner from Max Power picked out Dunkley, who could only direct his free header straight at the goalkeeper.

Massey then stole a yard and got his shot away, but again Bond was on hand to make the save.

At the other end, Marriott was looking more and more of a threat on the counter, although Walton was able to make a couple of comfortable saves from the Posh dangerman.

Latics made a double change just after the hour mark, with Massey and Grigg making way for Ryan Colclough and Vaughan, who’d scored four goals against Posh for Bury on this very weekend 12 months ago.

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And the duo were quickly into the game, with Vaughan competing for a header and seeing the ball drop to Colclough, who swung his foot at the ball only to completely miss it.

Jacobs then turned down repeated chances to shoot after again cutting in from the left, before eventually firing into a defender.

The ball found its way to Powell, whose left-foot snapshot was flying towards the top corner before almost taking the head off defender Steven Taylor.

Marriott and Vaughan came close at either end with low efforts, before Jacobs embarked on an amazing run down the left-hand side.

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The winger made his way right to the byline despite being fouled all the way from halfway, before sending over a cross that was only just in front of Vaughan.

That was Jacobs’ last act before giving way to exhaustion, and substitute Callum Elder, with three minutes to go.

There was to be one more flashpoint - at the wrong end - but thankfully the referee’s assistant did her job and spotted Marriott in an offside position, just before he slotted home for what he thought was a dramatic winner.