Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan failed to find the net for the fourth successive game after sharing the spoils with struggling Swindon in a dour goalless draw at the JJB Stadium.

Colin Greenall, in charge after the exit of Bruce Rioch, made a number of changes to the side but to no avail as another three points went begging.

Colin Greenall's first game in charge of Wigan won't be the most memorable in terms of action on the pitch but their were promising signs from the two new signings McCulloch and McMillan who had only arrived at the stadium the previous day.

Wigan again failed to find the necessary form in front of goal that is needed if they have any visions of promotion this season.

The game was dominated by midfield with neither goalkeeper having much to do throughout the 90 minutes.

Greenall decided to throw the two new lads straight into the starting line up with Steve McMillian at left back and Lee McCulloch partnering Lee Ashcroft in attack.

There were no places in the squad for Kevin Sharp or Simon Haworth who was resigned to taking his seat high up in the West Stand.

Returning from injury was former Everton and Manchester City midfielder Peter Beagrie and he lined up in the middle of the park with Ged Brannan, Darren Sheridan and Andy Liddell who was playing a deeper role than normal.

The playing surface had seen far better days and wasn't helped by the fact that the rugby league side had played on it only the previous night leaving groundsman David Pinch with a battle on his hands to get it ready for this game.

A battle that went on well into the early hours. The pitch is now looking more and more threadbare and must surely hinder the players.

The first half presented little in the way of entertainment for either set of fans and Swindon never had a single shot on goal, the closest they went was a Michael Reddy cross, on loan from Sunderland, which landed on the roof of the net.

Latics came closest to breaking the deadlock late in the first half when Lee Ashcroft in space inside the area, headed over the bar from a Carl Bradshaw free kick.

The second half is a bit more lively and Wigan do manage to assert pressure on the Swindon goal but lacked the killer instinct to finish anything off.

Lee Ashcroft seemed to be slightly off the pace and failed to connect by a matter of inches on a couple of occasions with crosses into the box.

The main talking point of the half however actually occurred off the pitch.

On the touchline to be precise and involved Scott Green who was warming up and from the substitutes bench.

Swindon received a throw deep in the Wigan half and Steve Robinson raced down in an attempt to take it quickly but found Green in his tracksuit unwilling to return the ball and the pair ended up getting a grip of each other resulting in a yellow card for Green.

As the game entered stoppage time Wigan went agonisingly close to sneaking a winner when McCulloch stole in to prod a shot at Mildenhall's left post only for the Swindon keeper to get down with a fingertip save to push behind for a corner.

This seemed to momentarily stir many of the Wigan fans who were either nodding off or calling for the head of Director of Football John Benson.

The corner came to nothing and within seconds the referee put a stop to the proceedings and an all too familiar sound these days at Wigan rang around the ground.

Wigan have now played 373 minutes of football without scoring and the play-offs for a third successive season are looking more and more likely but their current inability to find the net could find them even missing out on that if they are not careful.

Tough games against Notts County and Reading are coming up next and could see Wigan either back in the thick of the promotion hunt or chasing the play-off pack.