Match Report: Blackburn Rovers 0, Wigan Athletic 0

At Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic made a strong start to the Shaun Maloney era with a scoreless draw. Ben Brereton-clear Diaz's cut run through the left channel gave the home team a strong start, and Latics were appreciative of Ben Amos' excellent stop.

Omar Rekik made a good turn to gain a yard for himself at the opposite end following a Latics corner when there was a loose ball in the Blackburn box, but his shot was blocked. Another deadline-day acquisition, Danel Sinani, attempted his luck from 25 yards away with a shot that was travelling but headed straight for the goalie.

When Martin Kelly, Shaun Maloney's third defender, snuffed out a Bradley Dack cross just in time, Rovers came close to scoring once again.fresh recruits will get their first starts. However, Latics remained a threat as Callum Lang sent a drive from 25 yards just beyond the top corner and then saw another long-range attempt deflected behind for a corner.

Latics would have been happy with their performance in the first 45 minutes, but Amos produced another excellent save to stop Sorba Thomas. Rekik had a great start to the second session, taking down two opponents before defeating a third, only to shoot his shot wide of the far post.

Rekik unfortunately only played in that one game before hobbling off and was replaced by Tom Pearce.

James McClean, who had just become a father for the fourth time hours before kickoff, had a "goal" chalked off for Latics.Kelly was waiting at the back post when the ball was thrown over a corner.

The celebrations behind the goal were muted when the referee blew against Lang for a foul on the goalie.

As Rovers surged, Kelly was forced to perform some excellent defending while under siege in his own box. Before the Latics were forced into another injury-enforced change when Kelly walked off following an innocent-looking challenge.

Thelo Aasgaard replaced Sinani to offer fresh legs.

Will Keane was also removed, and Steven Caulker and Charlie Wyke were added for the last 15 minutes. Harry Pickering nearly added an unintentional sting to the story when he collided with a Rovers player after getting in Jack Whatmough's way as he was trying to get there.only to have the referee wave play on when they are in the box.