Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan drew for the fourth consecutive game at Dean Court, albeit 3 of those previous games have been on their travels, a familiar pattern is emerging and the ghost oflast season's failure to win an automatic promotion spot is rearing it's ugly head.

Latics had a number of chances to take the three points back North and with little more than 5 minutes on the clock Neil Roberts failed to help their cause by somehow managing to scoop the ball over the bar from a few yards out when it seemed impossible to miss.

Striker Lee Aschroft had at least three clear opportunities including a gift from Bournemouth's Richard Hughes on 12 minutes, his miscalculated back header was snapped up by the former Grimsby Town frontman but his weak effort on goal was tipped away by Stewart in the Cherries' goal.

Ian Kilford was unlucky when his shot on goal came back off the post but Roberts should have done better with the rebound managing to knock it off one of his own team mates before Bradshaw put the loose ball wide and out of play.

Bournemouth only had 2 real chances of note in the first half. Firstly they went close from an inswinging corner which looked to be on it's way in but the ball was cleared away by the solid Wigan defence.

Then Steve Fletcher got the better of Pat McGibbon but his low drive at the Wigan goal proved no problem for Roy Carroll.

Half Time: Bournemouth 0 Wigan 0

The second period saw more of the same from Wigan but they seemed to do everything but score although Neil Redfearn did put the ball into the back of Gareth Stewart's goal only for Essex referee Andy D'Urso to disallow it after his assistant on the bye-line had flagged for offside.

Stewart was on fine form in goal for the home side and collected the ball well as Wigan struggled to finish off their attacking moves, obviously missing the striking power of Simon Haworth and Andy Liddell who were both out injured.

WIgan's stalwart defence controlled everything that Bournemouth threw at them and Roy Carroll had very little to do in a second half that both teams looked happy to settle for a point.

However Bournemouth nearly got the vital goal they needed to ease their relegation worries.

Fletcher found himself with the ball 30 yards out and, spotting Carroll off his line, attempted to lob the Wigan keeper but the ball landed on the roof of the net, agonisingly close.

Full Time: Bournemouth 0 Wigan 0

Lee Ashcroft was obviously disappointed at the result after failing to break his goalscoring duck since joining Wigan.

The former Preston and Grimsby Town forward said: "I haven't scored in three games for Wigan since I joined. It's been a nightmare start for me because I injured my Achilles at the start of the season and am only just nearing match fitness. We should have had three points and I was guilty of missing a couple of good chances, but we are still up there and I think we can get promotion - that's why I joined Wigan."