Wigan Athletic chief reacts to Sheffield Wednesday draw - 'I'll have to go and apologise to him now'

Latics had arrived at Hillsborough propping up the rest of the third tier, looking to exorcise the demons of last weekend's 4-0 home defeat to Stockport County.

And the players came up with a dynamic and determined display that could easily have seen them leaving with all three points.

"I'm delighted with the team, I'm delighted with the performance, but I'm not delighted with the result," said Caldwell.

"I thought we were outstanding, I thought we should have won the game...anyone inside the stadium will know we should have won the game.

"We didn't, but from where we were last week...it's an incredible reaction, a huge step forward, and a first clean sheet of the season.

"I think we're the first team to come here and get a clean sheet, and I don't think there will be many more who manage that, given their attacking threat.

"From a very low moment in the season, the recovery we've made, to play with the quality we did, against a team at the top of the league.

"If we can maintain that performance level, then we will win a lot of football matches this season.

"I said last week, after Stockport, that as low as we were, you have to take those days, stay humble and do something about it.

"As a whole group, we have done something about it, and we've responded in the perfect way, like a proper team.

"I keep saying we're a young team, but we looked like a team of men today. We played like men on the ball and off the ball.

"All we were lacking was the goal our performance deserved, but it's the hardest part of the game - and that's why strikers get paid the most money.

"We just have to keep knocking at the door and keep believing, because we're leaving with a little bit of disappointment that we haven't got the win."

Caldwell also admitted he owed his former Scotland international colleague Barry Bannan an apology for handing Jensen Weir with a man-marking role that largely nullified the ageing playmaker.

"My teams have been hammered here in the past," added Caldwell. "They are a team that scores goals left, right and centre, their xG (expected goals) is always incredible.

"But we kept them out by showing a clear identity, passing the ball and controlling the game.

"I man-marked my old mate Barry Bannan again - something I've done before with Exeter - and he's fuming in there.

"I'll have to go and apologise to him now, but you have to do what you have to do to win a game of football, and he’s the talisman in this team."

Wednesday hit the outside of the post through Mason Burstow early on, while Jensen Weir fired against the woodwork from 30 yards after the break, with Reggie Walsh unable to convert the rebound.

Other than a speculative cross from the Wednesday left clipping the Wigan bar, Joe Whitworth didn’t have a great deal to do.

And Latics almost sneaked a winning goal in stoppage-time, when substitute Scott Hogan’s shot was superbly deflected wide by a desperate defender.