Latics held in final game of Austrian tour

WIGAN ATHLETIC 0

GENCLERBIRLIGI 0

Match report by Paul Chialton in Klagenfurt

A stalemate in Latics' final game of their Austrian tour but an ideal opponent in the physical and sharp Turkish opponents.

With more players able to get 90 minutes under their belts preparations for the new season on well on-course and the challenge set in Klagenfurt asked plenty of questions as the team looked to implement all of their training exercises into practice.

Ben Watson and James McArthur did an excellent job of dropping deep to win the ball back and start-up the plays whilst the surging Momo Diame looked a constant threat throughout.

His performances all week have been outstanding and he came close to grabbing the opening goal in the first-half, playing a tidy one-two with Hugo Rodallega on the edge of the area, shifting onto his right-foot inside the area but squeezing his shot just over the bar.

The midfield trio worked well together in the middle, and when James McCarthy came into the game in the second-half the strength in depth of the squad really showed.

Roberto Martinez has some tough decisions to make this season regarding selections, and on this basis there are plenty of candidates ready to come in and do the job.

Genclerbirligi pressed more and more as the game continued but could not find a way through the defence, thanks to the resilience of Steve Gohouri and Emmerson Boyce and the focus of Ali Al Habsi.

Michael Stewart had their best chance, finding space ten-yards from goal but guiding his shot against the cross-bar.

Late on Jordi Gomez came close to finding the target, placing a free-kick down after a foul on Jason Scotland.

However the Spaniard, who has been impressive all week, curled his effort narrowly wide.

In the end it finished goal-less with Roberto Martinez happy that his team had been given the right test at the right time. Next up his old club Real Zaragoza travel to the DW Stadium on Wednesday for the penultimate friendly before the new season kicks-off.

Latics: Al Habsi; Boyce, A. Trialist, Gohouri, Baradji; McArthur (Thomas, 60), Diame (McCarthy, 55); Gomez, Watson, Rodallega (Moses, 45); Boselli (Scotland, 45)

Subs: Pollitt, Morris