A LARGELY uneventful stalemate was played out in cold gusty conditions in the North West as neither side managed to stamp any kind of authority on the game, sending both sets of fans home with nothing to shout about.

It was a fairly even start as both sides forced early pressure. The best of the first ten minutes came from Jermaine McSporran when he forced Wigan keeper John Filan, formally of Blackburn, to push his deflected effort around the post.

McSporran was in as one of three changes made to the Wycombe side who had collapsed at home to Blackpool midweek. Also in was David Tuttle, making a first appearance on loan from First Division Milwall. He slotted in well alongside Mark Rogers as Wycombe defended solidly throughout.

After the first half an hour, the pace of McSporran had caused the most trouble for the home side but neither keeper was tested. The experienced Wigan back line also looked relatively comfortable and the deadlock remained intact.

Wycombe looked to step up the pace after the break but Wigan equalled the slight rise in tempo, their best chance coming early on when Ged Brannan's cross-come-shot was caught in the wind, eventually forcing Martin Taylor to tip the ball over.

Lawrie Sanchez replaced Darren Currie with Andy Baird to create more attacking options but Taylor was called to action again as he held a Lee McCulloch drive well as Wigan were advancing for a possible rebound.

Wigan manager Paul Jewell made two changes with Ascroft and Kilford coming on, in a bid to force a much-needed goal but the game continued to look scrappy with neither side capable of taking the upper hand.

Wigan had two half-hearted penalty appeals turned down in the closing stages but the final whistle left both sets of supporters disappointed at the lack of goal scoring opportunities created.

A depleted and subdued crowd at the half-empty JJB Stadium saw both sides succeed in cancelling each other out in this bleak encounter.

Wigan: Filan, Nolan, Jason De Vos, Arjan De Zeeuw, Jackson, Dalglish (Ashcroft,) Brannan (Kilford,) Tony Dinning, Peter Kennedy, McCulloch, Gary Teale. Subs not used: Johnson, Pendlebury, Mitchell.

Wycombe: Taylor, Senda, Rogers, Tuttle, Vinnicombe, Currie (Baird,) Bulman, Simpson, Brown, Devine (Ryan,) McSporran. Subs not used: Lee, Emblen, Roberts.