Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan Athletic now have one of their best chances of progressing through to the 3rd Round of the Worthington Cup following the goalless draw against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park.

Both teams had opportunities to take a lead into the 2nd leg next week but Wigan must now surely be favourites to progress.

Wigan travelled to the capital to face Wimbledon, recently relegated from the Premier League, and will be very happy with the result to take back to the JJB Stadium for the second leg next Tuesday. [Empty seats at Selhurst Park]

The game was hardly inspiring for the mere 1,900 fans who turned out to watch the game, the lowest crowd ever to turn out and watch Wmbledon at Selhurst Park, but the result will surely give Wigan extra confidence in their bid to progress through to the 3rd round for the first time in years.

Wigan made a few changes to the starting line-up from Saturday's draw at Bristol, with Brian McLaughlin coming in to replace Roberto Martinez, who was resigned to the bench.

However, Martinez wasn't there for long and was called in the fray just after the half hour mark as substitute for Ian Kilford who'd taken a nasty dig in the ribs.

Latics went on the attack from the start and with barely one minute gone were unlucky not to go into the lead courtesy of a Kevin Nicholls' free kick which was put out for a corner by former Luton Town keeper Kelvin Davis at full stretch.

Davis was called up on again 10 minutes later, denying Haworth.

Wimbledon also had opportunities to take the lead from Robinson and Hartson.

Robinson wasted his effort by heading straight at Carroll and the Northern Ireland keeper had to make a finger-tip save from Hartson's free kick just outside the area.

Wimbledon's Ansah Owusu should have done better after Hartson had set him up, but his powerful drive went sailing over the bar.

Just before the interval Carroll denied Hartson again after the Welsh international had fired in a low shot which looked on it's way in.

Carroll then seemed to be struggling with his shoulder following the plucky save.

HALF TIME: Wimbledon 0 Wigan 0

Derek Stillie came out for the second half as replacement for Carroll and made a number of fine saves during the half.

Wigan started the second half brightly and had a couple of good opportunities within the first ten minutes.

Liddell was unlucky not to reach the ball after Haworth had slotted it across the face of goal and Davis in the Wimbledon net dropped a weak free kick from Nicholls and started a free for all in the six yard box but the Dons' defence managed to clear the danger.

Just after the hour mark Latics had what was probably their best chance of the game following a surging run down the middle of the field by Scott Green.

His ball to Brian McLaughlin was followed by an inch perfect chip into the area which Haworth met with a sweet header but his effort was easily dealt with by the keeper.

Stillie made a brilliant save from a John Hartson header on 80 minutes and the Dons' captain must have been wondering what he had to do to put the ball in the back of the net - two goalkeepers had been in fine form and both had denied him from breaking the deadlock with excellent saves.

The game ended controversially however, and this type of incident is creeping up more and more regularly.

Roberto Martinez kicked the ball out of play in order for Wimbledon's Mark Williams to receive attention from the physio.

However Wimbledon declined to return the ball to Wigan and as the referee explained to a fuming Bruce Rioch at the final whistle, there is no rule saying that they had to.

Perhaps FIFA should approach this subject and avoid episodes like the one at Bramall Lane when Arsenal went on and scored against Sheffield United in the FA Cup and more recently at Meadow Lane in the game between Notts County and Bristol Rovers.

FINAL SCORE: Wimbledon 0 Wigan 0