All even at Ninian Park

Report by John Patrick Heeley

This game was always going to be tight not only because 5 of the 9 meetings between these two sides at Ninian Park have ended up even but this one saw the highest goalscorers pitted against the meanest defence in the First Division.

Cardiff had netted 19 times from their 9 games so far this season whereas Wigan's goal had been breached on only 6 occasions - the two sides were nailed on to cancel each other out.

Wigan made only one change from the side that drew at Coventry at the weekend with Lee McCulloch missing out with a head injury picked up at Highfield Road.

Steve McMillan returned from injury and took his place at left back which allowed Peter Kennedy to move forward, filling the void left by the absent McCulloch.

With just 6 minutes played Nathan Ellington showed just why he is making his name as a striker to be wary of when he presented himself with a goalscoring opportunity but he sent his effort wide of the mark.

The normally free scoring home side, who had netted no fewer than 25 times in all competitions so far this season, saw their first chance of the evening fall their way after seven minutes when Peter Thorne raced onto a ball played back into the danger area from the byeline but John Filan read the situation well, charging off his line to block the former Stoke City strikers close range effort with his chest.

Geoff Horsfield saw his shot from a tight angle on 23 minutes saved by Cardiff keeper Neil Alexander at the expense of a corner and 3 minutes later at the other end of the park City skipper Graham Kavanagh fired a free kick against the wall.

Horsfield then saw his header sail the wrong side of the upright from Andy Liddell's centre but it was the diminutive Robert Earnshaw who probably created the best chance of the first half when the prolific goalscorer took the ball on his chest before turning his marker to get a shot in on goal. However John Filan was on hand to pull off a fine save to ensure the first half ended goalless.

The second half started well for Wigan with Horsfield causing problems for the home side. The former Birmingham City striker received a pass from team mate Jimmy Bullard after 52 minutes before getting the better of Australian international defender Tony Vidmar.

Unfortunately, with just the keeper to beat The Horse placed his shot wide of the near post.

He burst through again a few minutes later but with the goal beckoning he allowed himself just that bit too much on the ball and Danny Gabbidon stepped in to take the ball from his feet as he lined up a shot.

Nathan Ellington jinked his way towards goal just after the hour mark but failed to find the target.

Peter Thorne, once on loan with Wigan during their Springfield Park days, wasted his chance with less than 10 minutes of normal time remaining, the former Blackburn and Stoke frontman blasting over from yards out and minutes later Peter Kennedy lined up a free kick which dropped inches over the bar.

The result maintained Wigan's unbeaten run but saw them drop another place in the table to third spot with West Brom inching their noses ahead of them with a 2-1 home win over Millwall.

Norwich's victory over Reading saw them climb to fourth spot, a mere one point separating them and Wigan, making this weekend's game even more poignant.