Luckless Latics held by Reading

Reading may now hold the upper hand after the draw

Wigan 0-0 Reading

Wigan failed to make their superiority count as their play-off semi-final first leg with Reading ended in a frustrating stalemate at the JJB Stadium.

The Latics finished their Second Division campaign 11 points behind their visitors but squandered numerous chances to claim the upper hand in their battle for a place at the Millennium Stadium.

Striker Andy Liddell was the chief culprit, spurning four clear-cut chances to hand Steve Bruce's dominant side a lead they richly deserved.

I couldn't have asked for more as far as the performance was concerned

  Wigan boss Steve Bruce

Bruce may wonder how his side failed to wrap up the game before half-time after enjoying much the better of a lively opening 45 minutes.

Liddell should have put the home side well on the road to a second successive final appearance as he allowed three gilt-edged opportunities to slip by.

First he managed to shoot into the midriff of defender Adrian Viveash on the goalline after a Carl Bradshaw cross had caused panic in the Royals' area eight minutes before the break.

The tie hangs in the balance

He then failed to make amends when he raced on to a Scott Green through ball and lifted his shot over the bar.

It proved third time unlucky when Phil Whitehead blocked another of his efforts soon after.

The Latics had enjoyed little luck all half with Whitehead desperately clawing a Green header off the line at the second attempt after just four minutes.

The lively Peter Beagrie also got behind the Reading backline after dispossessing Andy Gurney only to cross into empty space.

But the visitors were not without their chances as they played their part in an entertaining contest.

Their two best chances came in the space of 60 seconds when Latics keeper Roy Carroll produced back-to-back saves to keep out powerful headers from Barry Hunter and Phil Parkinson.

Wigan are going to need a bit of luck on Wednesday when we are on full steam

  Reading manager Alan Pardew

Prolific striker Martin Butler was also unlucky to see his athletic shot on the turn bobble agonisingly wide.

Bruce turned to Wales international Simon Haworth after the interval but his side had still not forced a breakthrough.

Haworth was in action within moments of coming on but could only turn to the heavens after side-footing Liddell's superb through ball over.

The substitute had another chance to break the deadlock after 65 minutes when he got a lucky ricochet off Viveash but Matt Robinson managed to get his body in the way of his shot.

Whitehead also had to stay alert to the last, acrobatically tipping over a Lee Ashcroft header late on. Liddell yet again went close when he cut inside from the left but shot over.

The Royals, playing their first play-off match since losing the 1995 First Division final to Bolton, held on to set up an interesting second leg at the Madejski Stadium in midweek.

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Wigan: Carroll, Bradshaw, McGibbon, De Zeeuw, Sharp, Green, Nicholls, Martinez, Beagrie, Liddell, McCulloch. Subs: Stillie, Sheridan, Roberts, Haworth, Ashcroft.

Reading: Whitehead, Gurney, Viveash, Hunter, Robinson, Igoe, Parkinson, Jones, McIntyre, Butler, Cureton. Subs: Howie, Williams, Harper, Caskey, Forster.

Referee: R Pearson (Peterlee)