Brentford 0-0 Wigan: Goalless at Griffin Park

Brentford had to be content with a share of the spoils in a 0-0 draw despite dominating against a resolute Wigan side.

John Egan came closest to breaking the deadlock for the Londoners when his looping second-half header was cleared off the line and onto the bar by Latics defender Shaun MacDonald.

And the visitors had Dave Perkins to thank late on when Maxime Colin's fierce cross-shot was spilled by keeper Adam Bogdan and the defender cleared to safety.

The visitors almost nicked it at the death but Nick Powell's blistering free-kick forced an unorthodox reflex stop from Daniel Bentley.

Lasse Vibe was the first to strike in anger after nine minutes, but his low drive from the tightest of angles was blocked by the legs of Wigan 'keeper Adam Bogdan.

Wigan had giant centre-back Dan Burn to thank for keeping things deadlocked 10 minutes later when the Bees' leading scorer Scott Hogan burst through only to be thwarted by the former Fulham man's superb last-ditch tackle.

Denmark international Vibe should have given the hosts the lead minutes later when he chested down a cross from the right but lashed his first-time effort wide of the far post.

Brentford had much of the possession in a one-sided first half but never really looked like troubling a well-organised Latics defence. Referee Andy Woolmer did not help the flow of the game with a fussy display that saw six bookings dished out in a game that was niggly rather than dirty.

Egan was always a threat for the hosts and saw a goal-bound strike just before the hour cleared by the head of Stephen Warnock, who threw his body on the line to repel a string of Brentford efforts.

Vibe went close midway through the second half but saw his low drive deflected wide by a brave challenge from Warnock, as the Latics' rearguard held firm to take a hard-earned point.

Brentford manager Dean Smith:

 "Maybe after our last two games people expected us to go and beat Wigan with ease, but our set-pieces weren't as good as they have been and you have to give them credit because they defended well.

"The fact that we are disappointed with a 0-0 and didn't create as many clear-cut chances as we did on Tuesday (against Reading) is a good thing. It's also another clean sheet and we were the better side."

Wigan manager Gary Caldwell:

"We have a bit of momentum now and could have done with another game rather than the international break. We always look upwards and we want to progress as a club.

"Results-wise the start wasn't good enough but we have come out of that and have emerged stronger as a group, and you could see that today."