Wigan 0-0 Swansea

This was a game where getting a win was a must, a result to start building a base for our season and push-off from. After a frustrating first day home draw against Norwich, coming out of the traps early and quick today was important.

But in typical Wigan fashion we struggled to get into the game from the off. Swansea looking the better side, and pushing high up against Latics, forcing us to defend for most of the first half. A touch on the ball for Latics was a rarity.

However for Swansea's pressure they were unable to break through the Latics defence. Some worrying cross floating into the box, but Swansea striker Danny Graham was unable to get on the end of any of the crosses. While Swansea's young winger (Scott Sinclair) was causing problems for Figeroua wide on the Latics left.

While Routledge on the opposite wing also applied pressure, but Latics played it safe pushing the ball out for another Swansea corner. As the pressure on Wigan's back four continued.

The major worry for Wigan came with Alcaraz landing awkwardly, however he managed to carry on for the next ten minutes. Before unfortunately, the Paraguayan who had an excellent Copa America, had to hobble off to be replaced by Ronnie Stam.

With the final few minutes of the first half, Latics start to apply the pressure and finally started to get a hold of the ball. As Moses gets into the game, but his attempt, after cutting inside wide on the left, was a tame one. While Moses nearly got Gomez on the score sheet. But the later was only able to hit the ball straight into the keepers arms.

A first half with little to talk about, but one in which Wigan were happy to see 0-0 at half time. Plenty of Swansea pressure, and it could have been a very different story for Latics, had they managed to find the back of the net.

The beginning of the second half continued much as the first half had been. Swansea taking control of the ball and attacking the Wigan goal. The home sides support getting right behind them, and their open style of play getting them into the Wigan third.

All though they may have had chances, they were unable to really force the issue and take advantage.

A Boyce foul, resulting in a Swansea free kick on the edge of the area, the resulting set pieces went tamely wide. That was just a start, as Swansea pushed onwards. Sinclair again attacking the Wigan wings, but with another tame effort.

A Rangel shot, and the ball falls in the Wigan penalty box. Graham unable to turn the ball home after Latics bodies block the way. Routledge then gets on the go, and another move as the Latics defence parts. The wingers effort drifted just wide.

Now was the time for Wigan to stand tall and make a mark on the game.

First Gomez wide on the right hand side worked some space, before smashing a strike, bouncing off hard away from the Swansea goal.

Moses also was getting into the game, the winger slalom past two Swansea players, and found himself with just the keeper to beat before hitting the cross-bar. The ball fell to Gomez, who was brought down my Williams. Penalty to Wigan, Watson to take.

Watson struck the penalty, keeper diving before the ball was hit and saved the strike. The ball was then cleared for a corner. The Latics players looked shell-shocked. The confidence drained out of them, and Swansea got back into the game after a good ten minute Latics spell.

Swansea were unable to take advantage of the Latics slip in concentration, and were held back yet again by Wigan, who had defended well through out. Ali Al Habsi getting in on the action with a good palmed save in the last five minutes of the game.

It was to end 0-0 between the two sides, which on reflection doesn't seem like a bad result. Neither side could break the other down at will, and on the few occasions they did we nor Swansea could put away our chances.

The positives from the game is that we are two points better off than we were this time last year and remain unbeaten. This also coincides with our first clean sheet of the season. All in all not a bad result considering.

Hoping that Alcaraz's injury isn't too serious so he can play against QPR next Saturday. While Rodallega surely has to replace Di Santo who has yet again failed to make a big impression on the game.

But can we argue? This time last year we had no points and had a minus nine goal difference. One year later we have two points and zero goal difference. You could therefore say we have improved, although we have played two very different teams from this time last year.

It is always better to look at the positives though.