Chances but no goals at Boundary Park
Latics and Crewe Alexandra both had chances to establish a lead in a goalless opening period of their npower League One match at Boundary Park.
It was a case of what might have been as neither side was able to find a way to goal.
It was a case of what might have been as neither side was able to find a way to goal.
Latics were lucky not to be two down inside the opening four minutes as Crewe made a lively start.
Centre-back Mark Ellis had a free header from six yards following a Matt Tootle corner, but could not find the target.
Striker Mathias Pogba then headed wide when he ought to have found the net after Lauri Dalla-Valle flicked on a right-wing cross.
Youssouf M'Changama had two 35-yard strikes at goal in quick succession, but both cleared the crossbar by some distance.
Dean Furman then had a long-range shot which keeper Steve Phillips fumbled.
Jose Baxter came close to giving Latics the lead midway through the half with what would have been the goal of the season.
He saw Steve Phillips off his line and tried to chip the keeper from 50 yards only for the shot to fly narrowly wide.
Matt Smith (pictured) had a further chance for Latics as he headed narrowly wide from a Jonathan Grounds cross.
Latics ought to have taken the lead in the 39th minute when Baxter and Dean Furman cut open the Crewe defence.
Furman squared the ball from the left only for Smith to shoot wide of an open goal from six yards.
Not long after, Smith had another chance as his headed drifted wide from a Grounds cross.
Half-time: Latics 0, Crewe Alexandra 0
Centre-back Mark Ellis had a free header from six yards following a Matt Tootle corner, but could not find the target.
Striker Mathias Pogba then headed wide when he ought to have found the net after Lauri Dalla-Valle flicked on a right-wing cross.
Youssouf M'Changama had two 35-yard strikes at goal in quick succession, but both cleared the crossbar by some distance.
Dean Furman then had a long-range shot which keeper Steve Phillips fumbled.
Jose Baxter came close to giving Latics the lead midway through the half with what would have been the goal of the season.
He saw Steve Phillips off his line and tried to chip the keeper from 50 yards only for the shot to fly narrowly wide.
Matt Smith (pictured) had a further chance for Latics as he headed narrowly wide from a Jonathan Grounds cross.
Latics ought to have taken the lead in the 39th minute when Baxter and Dean Furman cut open the Crewe defence.
Furman squared the ball from the left only for Smith to shoot wide of an open goal from six yards.
Not long after, Smith had another chance as his headed drifted wide from a Grounds cross.
Half-time: Latics 0, Crewe Alexandra 0