Wigan Athletic 0 Exeter City 0 - Grecians grind out hard-fought point

Joe Whitworth was the hero with a string of impressive saves in the 0-0 draw

Exeter City earned a valuable point away to Wigan Athletic as they ground out a goalless draw after a drab encounter, as Joe Whitworth was City’s hero with a string of impressive saves.

The goalkeeper made smart saves from Silko Thomas and Jensen Weir to keep City level after a first half which was short of much real action as both sides cancelled each other out. Dale Taylor missed the best of the chances – one of which in the dying stages - in a second half which didn’t really improve as defenses were on top and quality in action was lacking.

Will Aimson thought he had won it deep into stoppage-time against his former club, but Whitworth produced an outstanding save to claw his header away. But in truth, neither side did enough to claim the win as the spoils were shared in a game which always looked like finishing goalless - and was the first time since February 13 City had drawn a blank in front of goal. The point sees the Grecians rise up to 13^th in the League One table with what was a first draw of the season. Wigan stayed 16^th after a third successive 0-0 draw.

Following the 2-0 home win over Stevenage last weekend, exeter-city-fc>Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell made just the one change to the starting line-up. Out dropped Ed Francis, despite scoring for the third game in a row, with Amani Richards the man replacing him – in what was a first start for the Leicester City loanee. Caleb Watts was also on the bench in place of Ben Purrington. Former Grecians Aimson and Dion Rankine started for Wigan.

The hosts created the first opening with a well-worked move down the left-hand side, but Tristan Crama made a vital interception to snuff out the danger. City’s first attack saw them win a corner, but Sam Tickle dealt with Kamari Doyle’s teasing delivery with Exeter men lurking.

The early stages were short of any real action at either end. Aimson headed well over from a free-kick, but chances were at a real premium. City almost gifted the Latics a chance when Joe Whitworth’s clearance hit Johnly Yfelo, but fortunately it rebounded into his arms. Thomas then curled an effort well over the crossbar, Ilmari Niskanen then same for the Grecians.

On the half hour though, Wigan should have led. Yfeko was robbed of the ball on the edge of his own box by Joe Hugill. He found Weir, who laid it off to Thomas, but Whitworth spread his body big to brilliantly deny him from close range.

City were forced into a change in the 37^th minute when Jack Aitchison hobbled off injured, with Francis replacing the Scot. Weir tested Whitworth with a long range effort in first half stoppage-time, as Wigan had shaded the first 45 minutes.

Caldwell made his second change at the break, with Millenic Alli replacing Richards, and the Irishman just couldn’t leap high enough to get his header on a Doyle cross goalbound with his first involvement. Shaun Maloney then made a double change for the Latics as the second half followed the pedestrian pattern of the first.

On the hour mark Wigan had a decent looking shout for a penalty when a corner seemed to strike the arm of Alli, but referee Scott Simpson waved the appeals away. Had there been VAR in League One, it could well have been given.

The Latics were looking the more likely to break the deadlock, but it was half chances at best. James Carragher – son of Jamie – blazed an effort from distance over the bar. At the other end, Doyle dragged an effort from 25 yards narrowly wide of the post, before Francis poked wide from the edge of the box.

Mustapha Carayol replaced Doyle with Caldwell’s third change of the match to try and spark some life into the game, but the quality in the final third from both sides wasn’t there. Scott Smith for Wigan did brilliantly to work the opening for a cross, but with three men waiting, sliced it out of play. Francis then forced Tickle into a good save as he tried to curl a strike into the top corner.

On 79 minutes, Wigan fashioned the best chance of the match. Substitutes Michael Olakigbe and Taylor linked up nicely, but the latter scuffed his effort from 15 yards out and Whitworth easily made the low save. Sonny Cox replaced Josh Magennis with City’s last change.

Thelo Aasgaard saw a late strike deflected into the arms of the Crystal Palace loanee as the Latics tried to find a winner as three minutes were added-on. And in the second of them they nearly won it. A free-kick from Luke Chambers was swung in, City only half cleared it to Taylor, but his effort was blocked by Pierce Sweeney and Whitworth kept it out.

But in the final seconds, Wigan came even closer to winning it. A cross was whipped in, Aimson rose highest at the back post, and his header looked to be heading into the top corner. Whitworth though magnificently clawed it away to keep the scores level and earn a point.

Exeter City are back in action on Tuesday night when they travel to Leyton Orient. The Grecians then host Cambridge United at St James Park on Saturday.

Exeter City: (3-4-3) Joe Whitworth, Pierce Sweeney, Tristan Crama, Johnly Yfeko, Jack McMillan, Ryan Woods, Kamari Doyle (Mustapha Carayol, 71), Ilmari Niskanen, Jack Aitchison (Ed Francis, 37), Amani Richards (Millenic Alli, 45), Josh Magennis (Sonny Cox, 82)

Subs: Shaun MacDonald, Jack Fitzwater, Caleb Watts,

Booking: Richards, McMillan