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Wigan Athletic 0-0 Burnley

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Wigan Athletic's Emerson Boyce challenges Burnley's Sam VokesImage source, PA

Burnley slipped up in their chase for an automatic promotion spot after they were held to a goalless draw at Wigan.

Former Wigan midfielder David Jones went closest for the Clarets when his fierce strike was pushed on to the bar by goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi.

At the other end, Wigan's former Burnley midfielder Chris McCann had a header cleared off the line.

The draw sees Burnley drop to third, while Wigan remain unbeaten in four Championship games under Uwe Rosler.

The German replaced Owen Coyle as Latics manager at the start of December and on Sunday watched his side give Burnley's defence a tough time.

Media caption,

Post-match: Wigan manager Rosler

They created the first chance when Leon Barnett got his head to Stephen Crainey's free-kick, but could only direct the ball behind for a goal-kick.

The Latics came closer still when a corner from the left found McCann 12 yards from goal, but the Irish midfielder's effort was cleared off the line and hacked away to safety.

Burnley's opening effort fell to Sam Vokes, who fired high and wide from close range, with the same player then forcing the first save of the game from Al Habsi.

The Clarets came agonisingly close to opening the scoring in first-half stoppage-time but Al Habsi touched Jones's right-foot strike, which looked destined for the top corner, onto the crossbar.

The ball then bounced off the back of Al Habsi and looked as though it might sneak over the line, before Barnett booted clear in the nick of time.

Both teams made changes in the final stages - Roger Espinoza for Wigan and Michael Kightly for Burnley - but neither side could make the breakthrough.

Wigan boss Uwe Rosler:

"I was very happy. We had to make changes once again, and we've still not managed to maintain a consistent spine of the team.

"Despite that we gave one of the best teams in the league a hard time.

"I felt it was 50/50 - we created chances but so did they - and unfortunately we couldn't take one."

Burnley boss Sean Dyche:

"Our goalkeeper's not made a save the entire game, which says a lot.

"But overall I think it was a fantastic point - and the reason for that is it was the toughest game on the fixture list today.

"They've got a new manager, arguably one of the best and deepest squads in the division, and we had to tactically perform very well."

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