Report by John Patrick Heeley

Despite going a goal down Wigan's first half performance warranted more than the one point that they came away from Pride Park with but a number of missed opportunities put paid to that.

To make matters worse Latics lost captain Matt Jackson early in the game with a serious looking knee injury and Lee McCulloch looks set to miss Tuesday night's trip to Watford after his dismissal for collecting two yellow cards.

However the afternoon was one of reflection with both sets of fans paying tribute to a football legend, a genious in fact. Brian Clough will be remembered by football fans all over the world for the contribution he made to the game and the man will be greatly missed.

It was fitting that the old League Championship trophy was on show before the game began with Cloughie taking Derby from Division Two to the title in a brief space of time, lifting the club to greatness again.

A minutes silence was impeccably observed, and so it should have been, the crowd of 26,113 united in respect.

Alan Mahon started in midfield in place of Per Frandsen, whose injury has ruled him out for the remainder of the season, and new signing Gareth Whalley took up Mahon's place on the bench.

Wigan showed their intentions early on with Nathan Ellington opening up an opportunity in the third minutes for himself but his final touch on the ball didn't mirror the build up with the ball flying out for a throw in.

Jason Roberts was brought down minutes later as Wigan went on the offensive again with Jimmy Bullard taking charge of the resultant free kick but the former Peterborough midfielder bent the ball narrowily wide of the upright.

He then forced the game's first save with Derby keeper Lee Camp getting a leg to Bullard's deflected effort, Spaniard Inigo Idiakez clearing the loose ball.

Paul Jewell was forced into a substitution moments later, Matt Jackson going down after stretching to clear the ball for a throw in.

The 32-year-old was carried from the field to be replaced by Emerson Thome and the Brazilian hardly had time to settle in when Derby scored the game's opener.

The game restarted with Jason Talbot, playing his first game since arriving on loan from Bolton, sending over a long throw into the box.

Polish international Grzegorz Rasiak, also making his first start, rose to flick the ball on and former Watford and Sunderland striker TOMMY SMITH stole in to nod home from six yards out.

Derby's lead was shortlived as within a minute or so Wigan were back on level terms.

Alan Mahon dispossed Idiakez inside the home side's half and sent a delightful ball for LEE MCCULLOCH to run onto, the Scot firing a low shot beyond Camp for his third goal of the season.

The equaliser spurred Wigan into stepping up their stride and just before the half hour mark Jason Roberts went agonisingly close to grabbing a second for Paul Jewell's side.

The former West Brom frontman beat off the attentions of 17-year-old defender Tom Huddlestone and then looped a ball over Camp towards the far post but his effort rolled inches the wrong side of the mark.

Roberts then turned provider with Ellington set on his way towards goal but with Camp racing off his line The Duke also placed his shot wide of the post and another chance had gone begging.

Shortly after the restart Ellington was denied by the young keeper after racing clear of the defence and at the other end of the park German striker Marco Reich charged upfield before forcing Filan into a low save.

Derby then had one of their better chances but fortunately Ian Taylor sent his header wide of the post when in acres of space.

The Wigan keeper was called upon again moments later when he tipped over a header from ex Villa midfielder Taylor and then Tommy Smith tried his luck on a couple of occasions as Derby began to push the visitors onto the back foot.

Lee McCulloch and Jason Talbot both required attention from their respective physios and with the Derby player off the pitch Wigan forced a corner which Bullard sent over for Mahon whose shot was gathered up by Camp.

With time ticking away Wigan were reduced to 10 men when McCulloch received his second caution of the afternoon after going up for a ball with Taylor and winning it.

The referee, the same man who sent off Leighton Baines at Ipswich last season, adjudged that the Wigan man had lead with his arm and before the ref could reach for his pocket McCulloch had done an about turn and was on his way to the tunnel.

Both sides pressed for a winner in the final few minutes but neither could find a way through and had to settle for a point apiece, just as they had last season and the first time the two sides met almost 20 years ago - 3 draws from 4 games on Derbyshire soil.