Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan Athletic have Neil Roberts' first two goals of the season and a fine penalty save 9 minutes from time to thank as they came away from a scrappy game at the Abbey Stadium with a point.

Injuries had forced Wigan manager to shuffle his side around for the game with Tony Dinning reverting to centre half alongside skipper Arjan De Zeeuw and Neil Roberts took his place in the starting line up for only the second time this season as Paul Dalglish was relegated to the bench.

Wigan hadn't lost at the Abbey Stadium in the previous three encounters and had the better of the opening exchanges but never really looked like finding the net until NEIL ROBERTS beat the offside trap after 16 minutes picking up a long ball out off defence and with Cambridge's French keeper Lionel Perez charging out of his area the Welsh striker lobbed the ball past the former Sunderland and Newcastle shot stopper and after what seemed like an eternity found the back of the net for his first goal since his double strike against Oldham at the end of January.

Lee Ashcroft was having another good game and his enthusiasm to the cause was obvious to see as he ran himself ragged in the middle of the park but the first half wasn't exactly the most entertaining one would hope to see after travelling the long distance to the game on a Tuesday night.

Both sides were playing the long ball game, mind you that seems to be the only type of game that Cambridge manager John Beck knows, and with the midfield being bypassed on many occassions followed by scrambles around both penalty areas or numerous offsides many must have began to ask themselves why they had bothered to turn up and pay to watch such a poor display of football.

However the game came to life on the half hour as a set piece corner found Dean Whalling who headed onto RICHARD PROKAS who, from close range, nodded in his first goal for Cambridge since his move from Carlisle on deadline day back in March.

Neil Roberts came out for the second half sporting a bandage wrapped around his head after injuring himself just before Cambridge's equaliser but the injury didn't seem to be putting him off his game as he continued to fight for every ball even if it was in the air.

However it was the home side on 52 minutes that struck the next blow after another set piece with a long throw into the area and after another goalmouth scramble the ball eventually landed at the feet of TOM YOUNGS who fired in from yards out.

Breaking down the Cambridge wasn't easy as they seemed to push everybody behind the ball and even if Wigan did find a way foward the offside trap caught them out.

Cambridge were having similar problems trying to get past a rock solid Arjan De Zeeuw and co.

Ashcroft then pulled a fantastic save from Perez before the ginger-haired Dave Kitson hit the post for Cambridge.

With less than 20 minutes gone NEIL ROBERTS doubled his tally when he capitalised on a defensive error, intercepting a poor back pass and put the ball over Perez to put Wigan back into the game.

Then with only 9 minutes of normal time remaining Peter Kennedy was adjudged to have dragged down Andy Revell as the pair jostled for the ball in the area and the referee had no hesitation but to point to the spot.

Dean Whalling stepped up and calmly attempted to put the ball past Kerr but the Wigan keeper dove the right to save and eventually clear as Cambridge were left ruing their missed opportunity.