Report by John Patrick Heeley

A weakend Wigan Athletic side earned themselves a point at a rain soaked Ninian Park against a Cardiff side that were battling to ensure their place in the play-offs.

Nathan Ellington, Andy Liddell and the two Jasons, De Vos and Jarrett, were all ruled out through injury although Matt Jackson did recover and took his place in the centre of defence alongside Ian Breckin who has been inspirational at the back since coming into the starting line up.

Looking at the bench you could have been forgiven for mistaking it for the youth side, the reserves at best, with Chris Lynch and David Moore stepping up to fill in the gaps alongside Leighton Baines who has turned out for David Lee's youth team this season.

The game itself could easily have gone the way of the home side had it not been for the performance of Wigan keeper John Filan who made a string of outstanding saves to keep the South Wales side out.

The Aussie shotstopper was on hand when needed and kept his 28th clean sheet of the season, 24 of them in the league and 15 of those away from home - something of a record surely.

His form away from the JJB Stadium has played more than a major part in the team only conceding 9 goals all season, which again must surely be listed amongst the records.

Another interesting fact is that of the teams that occupy the 6 places behind Wigan not one has managed to penetrate Filan's goal on their own turf with only Cardiff managing to earn anything out of a game on home soil. The guy is class and not much more needs to be said!

The opening 45 minutes was evenly matched with both sides seeing half chances go astray, Cardiff having the better of those in the early exchanges.

Former Latics loan striker Gary Croft laid the ball on for the once Wigan targer Gareth Ainsworth to move on goal but the former Wimbledon midfielder found Ian Breckin too much of an obstacle, the Wigan defender blocking his shot.

Thorne then had a chance on goal himself when he raced clear in the area but Filan was on hand, coming off his line to block with his chest and then the Wigan keeper palmed another of his efforts over the bar at the expense of the cormer.

The first Wigan attack of note culminated in Lee McCulloch heading just wide of the upright and minutes later the Scot saw a shot comfortably saved by Bluebirds Scottish keeper Neil Alexander.

With the rain still pouring down, stark contrast to the rugby league final taking place under cover just over a mile down the road, the first half came to an end with Gary Teale sending a free header wide after Jimmy Bullard had picked him out from the corner flag.

Cardiff went in search of a winner in the second half, dominaing the play in large parts, but any hope they had of nicking all three points were wiped out by Filan.

Prolific striker Robert Earnshaw was twice denied by the Australian, the second of those attempts bringing tears to my eyes let alone Filan who blocked the shot with his nuts and needed the attention of physio Alex Cribley.

With the second ticking away Filan produced his piece de resistance when he raced off his line to superbly save from substitute Andy Campbell, who cost the club £950,000 just over 12 months ago when he arrived from Middlesborough, when he ran unchallenged into the area and looked nailed on to score.

So it ended goalless, the point enough to virtually guarantee Lennie Lawrence's side their second successive play-off spot.

However Cardiff will probably feel that their finish to the season has been somewhat of a disappointment having looked certs for automatic promotion but after fading down the back straight now look forward to the lottery and memories of last season will now come flooding back.

Wigan have been there before and thank the Lord they don't have to go through it again.