English Premiership
Wigan, Fulham in scrappy draw
2009-02-07 19:22
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson (Gallo Images)
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Wigan - Fulham are still waiting for their first away league win this season after settling for a 0-0 draw at Wigan on Saturday.
The Cottagers have been notoriously bad travellers in recent years and there was been no change to that pattern this term.
Roy Hodgson's team were content enough with a hard-fought point at the JJB Stadium as it left them comfortable in mid-table, but they have now 12 matches without a victory away from west London since they won at Portsmouth on the final day of last season to avoid relegation.
Fulham striker Bobby Zamora has struggled in recent weeks and he looked short of confidence when he sent a chipped shot wide early on.
Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega had the hosts' first chance when defender Brede Hangeland could only flick on Maynor Figueroa's throw but the Colombian striker headed over.
Fulham claimed a penalty when Andrew Johnson tumbled under a challenge from Paul Scharner but their appeals were waved away.
There was panic in the Wigan penalty area when Johnson's shot was blocked and then Chris Kirkland tipped Zamora's follow-up around the post.
Wigan suffered a double blow moments later when injuries forced off Valencia and Michael Brown at the same time, with Ben Watson and Jason Koumas replacing them.
Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was called into action for the first time midway through the half when Mido drove in a powerful effort from Rodallega's shot.
Zamora's woeful form was summed up when Hangeland's flick-on from Simon Davies's corner reached the striker and he headed over from close-range.
Wigan weren't having much more luck and three minutes before the break Mido limped off to be replaced by Amr Zaki.
Fulham's on-loan Inter Milan midfielder Olivier Dacourt came on for his debut just before the break when he replaced the injured Dickson Etuhu.
Wigan's error-prone defender Titus Bramble almost gifted Fulham a goal when he let Davies' near-post cross skim past him and Zamora nipped in but could not keep his shot down.
The game was becoming more end to end and Zaki fired a 30-yard effort straight at Schwarzer before Kirkland dived at Johnson's feet to deny the Fulham striker.
Zamora was replaced by Erik Nevland for the last 15 minutes but when he got his first chance from Dacourt's dinked ball he headed tamely wide.