Match ends, Charlton Athletic 0, Wigan Athletic 0.
CharltonCharlton Athletic0WiganWigan Athletic0
Goalkeeper Lee Nicholls was Wigan's hero as they battled to a draw at Charlton in the Championship.
The 21-year-old was thrust into a league debut when regular keeper Scott Carson injured an ankle in the warm-up.
Nicholls pulled off a string of fine saves to frustrate the Addicks in the first half, including a spectacular stop from a Richard Wood header.
Wigan went in search of a rare away win after the break only to be denied by the woodwork.
The draw leaves Charlton unbeaten in four but still languishing in 19th, while Wigan rise to 14th with games in hand on their rivals.
Latics keeper Nicholls's only previous appearance for the club came in August in the Capital One Cup, when Manchester City thumped five past him.
But he showed no sign of nerves as he was tested early on.
Bradley Pritchard was twice smartly denied by the debutant, and it should have been third time lucky for the Addicks midfielder on the half-hour but he missed a decent opportunity to put the hosts ahead.
Cameron Stewart jinked his way to the byeline and pulled the ball back for Pritchard, who had a free shot from the penalty spot but sent it over the crossbar.
Things got worse for Charlton moments later when striker Yann Kermorgant suffered a recurrence of the ankle injury that had kept him out for the previous month and limped off.
And Nicholls pulled off another stunning save just before half-time when he clawed out Wood's point-blank header from Dale Stephens' corner.
Wigan, still getting to grips with combining their Thursday Europa League outings with a promotion bid, enjoyed plenty of early possession but too often their final ball was lacking.
Their only opportunity of note in the first half was a header from Grant Holt, which he directed straight at Ben Hamer.
The visitors improved vastly after the break, but not before Nicholls was beaten by a 20-yard rocket from Stephens which fortunately for the youngster flew inches wide of his right-hand post.
Charlton had a huge let-off moments later when Chris McCann met Ben Watson's corner with a powerful header that crashed off the underside of the crossbar and bounced to safety.
Hamer then saved low down from Leon Barnett and Emmerson Boyce volleyed narrowly wide from another Watson corner.
James McCarthy fired over from the edge of the box, Watson shot wastefully wide and Holt's goalbound effort was blocked by Wood, leaving Charlton more grateful for the point by the end.
Line-ups
Charlton
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Hamer
- 23Wilson
- 16Wiggins
- 24CousinsSubstituted forJacksonat 84'minutes
- 5Morrison
- 15WoodSubstituted forDerviteat 57'minutes
- 14PritchardBooked at 78mins
- 8Stephens
- 9Church
- 18KermorgantSubstituted forSordellat 36'minutes
- 32Stewart
Substitutes
- 2Hughes
- 3Evina
- 4Jackson
- 6Dervite
- 7Green
- 10Sordell
- 30Pope
Wigan
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Nicholls
- 17Boyce
- 24Perch
- 16McArthur
- 6Rogne
- 25Barnett
- 19Powell
- 7McCann
- 9HoltSubstituted forFortunéat 76'minutes
- 8WatsonSubstituted forEspinozaat 72'minutes
- 11McCleanSubstituted forMcManamanat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Crainey
- 4Shotton
- 14Gómez García-Penche
- 15McManaman
- 18Espinoza
- 22Beausejour
- 32Fortuné
- Referee:
- Steve Martin
- Attendance:
- 23,600
Match Stats
Home TeamCharltonAway TeamWigan
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away18
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home18
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Charlton Athletic 0, Wigan Athletic 0.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Callum McManaman (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marc-Antoine Fortuné.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Marc-Antoine Fortuné (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum McManaman.
Post update
Thomas Rogne (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Simon Church (Charlton Athletic).
Post update
Attempt missed. Callum McManaman (Wigan Athletic) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Roger Espinoza.
Post update
Attempt saved. Marc-Antoine Fortuné (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Roger Espinoza.
Post update
James Perch (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Simon Church (Charlton Athletic).
Post update
Chris McCann (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Bradley Pritchard (Charlton Athletic).
Substitution
Substitution, Charlton Athletic. Johnnie Jackson replaces Jordan Cousins.
Post update
Offside, Charlton Athletic. Marvin Sordell tries a through ball, but Simon Church is caught offside.
Post update
Hand ball by Simon Church (Charlton Athletic).
Post update
Attempt missed. Roger Espinoza (Wigan Athletic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Nick Powell.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Cameron Stewart (Charlton Athletic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Post update
James McArthur (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Jordan Cousins (Charlton Athletic).
Booking
Bradley Pritchard (Charlton Athletic) is shown the yellow card.
