Reuben Hazell showed Latics' forwards how it ought to be done in front of goal as he headed the team into a first-half lead.

But the central defender's joy was short-lived as Wycombe equalised shortly before half time through a penalty from Matt Harrold.

After a lukewarm opening, Latics gradually began to gain a toehold into the match.

It took almost 14 minutes to create their first clear-cut chance, but Chris Taylor headed straight at keeper Tom Heaton from 10 yards following a looping left-wing cross from Pawel Abbott.

Dale Stephens then had a crack at goal from 25 yards, but his effort flew some yards wide after he ran on to a return pass from the dangerous Taylor.

The breakthrough came on the half hour when back-four man Hazell headed home his third goal of the season to become Latics' second leading scorer.

Deane Smalley was fouled near the half-way line and Kieran Lee floated a fabulous free kick into the box. It flicked off the head of a Wycombe player and fell inviting to Hazell to head home from a couple of yards low to the right of keeper Heaton.

It looked as though it might be an important goal in Latics' battle in inch further clear of the relegation places.

Wycombe gradually became more of a threat and Harrold's header from a Dean Keates corner was cleared off the line by Danny Whitaker.

Then four minutes before the break referee Eddie Ilderton awarded a penalty after he spotted a handball by Taylor and Harrold's kick just eluded the dive of keeper Dean Brill.

Half-time: Latics 1, Wycombe 1.