Match ends, Wigan Athletic 0, Port Vale 0.
Port Vale moved out of the League One drop zone thanks to a goalless draw at Wigan.
The home side came close to scoring with their first attack, when Matt Smith's shot took a huge deflection off Thelo Aasgaard, completely wrong-footing Vale keeper Connor Ripley, only for the ball to sail inches past a post.
Former Wigan man Gavin Massey then had a great chance to mark his return to the DW Stadium with a goal, only to be thwarted by England Under-21 stopper Sam Tickle.
Smith's deliveries were causing concern for Ripley, who had to act smartly to take the ball off Aasgaard's feet, before tipping another cross round a post.
Martial Godo hit a post as Wigan pushed further, with substitute Charlie Kelman unable to force home the rebound.
But Vale finished the stronger and almost nicked it in the closing stages.
Tom Sang headed wide from an unmarked position, before Tickle parried out a deflected shot from James Plant, and did even better to divert the rebound from Baylee Dipepa past a post.
With five games left, Vale have now edged above Burton on goal difference - and, having picked up seven points from their past four matches, Darren Moore's revitalised side also have a game in hand.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Wigan
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Tickle
- 15Kerr
- 29Goode
- 6Hughes
- 21SmithSubstituted forSzeat 82'minutes
- 26AdeekoSubstituted forKelmanat 55'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 8Smith
- 5S SessegnonSubstituted forSmithat 55'minutes
- 20McManamanSubstituted forPearceat 68'minutes
- 10AasgaardSubstituted forShawat 82'minutesBooked at 87mins
- 17Godo
Substitutes
- 3Pearce
- 4Morrison
- 12Amos
- 16Shaw
- 18Smith
- 22Sze
- 23Kelman
Port Vale
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Ripley
- 4Sang
- 6Smith
- 17Iacovitti
- 21Plant
- 8GarrityBooked at 24mins
- 14Ojo
- 23ShorrockSubstituted forGrantat 65'minutes
- 10ChislettSubstituted forWeirat 66'minutes
- 19MasseySubstituted forDipepaat 62'minutes
- 9LoftSubstituted forIkpeazuat 62'minutes
Substitutes
- 12Ikpeazu
- 13Leutwiler
- 15Grant
- 16Lowe
- 20Weir
- 24Walters
- 25Dipepa
- Referee:
- Paul Howard
- Attendance:
- 12,572
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away4
- Corners
- Home4
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Wigan Athletic 0, Port Vale 0.
Post update
Tom Pearce (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Uche Ikpeazu (Port Vale).
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Attempt missed. Liam Shaw (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Jason Kerr.
Booking
Charlie Kelman (Wigan Athletic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Charlie Kelman (Wigan Athletic).
Post update
Conor Grant (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Ben Garrity (Port Vale) with an attempt from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Conor Grant with a cross.
Booking
Liam Shaw (Wigan Athletic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Liam Shaw (Wigan Athletic).
Post update
Uche Ikpeazu (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Charlie Hughes (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Uche Ikpeazu (Port Vale).
Post update
Foul by Liam Shaw (Wigan Athletic).
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Jensen Weir (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tom Sang (Port Vale) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
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Corner, Port Vale. Conceded by Sam Tickle.
Post update
Attempt saved. Baylee Dipepa (Port Vale) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt saved. James Plant (Port Vale) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ben Garrity.
Comments
Join the conversation
Also Cheltenham's fixtures could see them escape and condemn both Vale & Burton to the drop. We need to target Shrewsbury and Cambridge and overtake at least one of them. It's a big ask.
And edged Closer to Cambridge, Shrewsbury & Reading !
Mind the gap