The Valiants earn a hard-fought point at the DW Stadium following a stalemate with Wigan Athletic.
Within 15 seconds of kick off, Ethan Chislett picked up a loose ball in the final third and took aim, but his effort was well over Sam Tickle’s crossbar.
The hosts had their first effort in the sixth minute when Callum McManaman cut inside onto his left foot but fired an effort straight down the throat of Connor Ripley who saved comfortably.
Moments later, The Latics came close again when McManaman cut the ball back to Matt Smith who shot towards goal, but his effort deflected off Thelo Aasgaard and went well wide of the Vale goal.
In the 25th minute, The Vale broke with Ben Garrity who drove into the Wigan box before squaring the ball to Gavin Massey, but Sam Tickle charged off his line and brilliantly smothered the ball from the feet of the Vale man before he could get a shot away.
The Valiants were enjoying the better of the ball and had another good opportunity in the 35th minute when Ethan Chislett danced his way into the box before crossing low to Ben Garrity, who saw his his left-footed effort bobble wide of the post.
Wigan came close once more five minutes later when a deep corner fell nicely to Aasgaard whose low header cannoned off the shins of Alex Iacovitti before Ripley fortuitously gathered at the second attempt.
Connor Ripley was forced into action again three minutes into the second half when Matt Smith’s cross looked to be creeping into the far corner, but the Vale keeper got across quickly and tipped it around the post for a corner which eventually came to nothing.
The visitors came the closest of either side in the 58th minute when Martial Godo received the ball with his back to goal. The Fulham loanee turned his man and got to the by-line before unleashing a low strike that looked to hit the post before falling to Charlie Kelman, who failed to finish from a yard out, but was spared his blushes by the linesman's flag.
In the 66th minute, Tom Sang swung in a delightful cross that was met at the back post by Nathan Smith. However, his header on the stretch was well wide of Tickle’s goal.
Both sides were creating openings, but neither could make them count. A corner from the left was perfect for Aasgaard was connected firmly with the header, but it was straight into the gut of Connor Ripley who gratefully caught. Anywhere else and it would probably have been a goal.
Eight minutes from time, Vale worked their best opening of the game when James Plant cut inside, before going back outside and unleashing a shot that was deflected and somehow kept out by the legs of Tickle. The rebound then fell to Dipepa who poked towards goal, but Tickle was once again in the way as he tipped it around the post.
That was the final attack of a game that Vale had chances to win but they couldn’t find a way past Sam Tickle in the Wigan goal. However, this point does take Vale out of the relagation zone at present.
TEAM NEWS:
Wigan Athletic | Sam Tickle, Steven Sessegnon (Jonny Smith 54’), Charlie Hughes ©, Matt Smith, Thelo Aasgaard (Chris Sze 81’), Jason Kerr, Martial Godo, Callum McManaman (Tom Pearce 66’), Scott Smith (Liam Shaw 82’), Baba Adeeko (Charlie Kelman 54’), Charlie Goode
Subs not used: Ben Amos, Liam Morrison,
Port Vale | Connor Ripley, Tom Sang, Nathan Smith ©, Ben Garrity, Ryan Loft (Uche Ikpeazu 60’), Ethan Chislett (Jensen Weir 65’), Funso Ojo, Alex Iacovitti, Gavin Massey (Baylee Dipepa 60’), James Plant, Jack Shorrock (Conor Grant 64’)
Subs not used: Jayson Leutwiler, Jason Lowe, Rhys Walters,
