Lincoln City earned a well-deserved point at home after holding Wigan Athletic to a 0-0 draw in an evenly-matched League One encounter.
The Imps, under manager Michael Skubala, stood firm against a Wigan side that arrived at the LNER Stadium buoyed by a convincing 4-0 win over Bristol Rovers last week, but Lincoln proved resilient, managing to keep the visitors at bay. The former Leeds coach later reflected on the game of ‘two halves’ and felt his side might have snatched the win.
Wigan may have edged the possession and created a handful of chances, but Lincoln defended with determination and could have even snatched all three points in a dramatic stoppage-time sequence. Despite the draw, both sides will feel there were opportunities missed, particularly in the final third.
Wigan began the match on the front foot, with an unchanged line-up from their last outing. Boosted by their prior result, they looked to impose themselves early. A dangerous ball from Thelo Aasgaard found Joe Hugill, but the striker was unable to direct his effort on target. Moments later, Luke Chambers made progress down the left, delivering a cross that narrowly missed Hugill, and despite Dion Rankine’s attempt to recycle the ball across the goal, the Lincoln defence stood strong.
Lincoln showed glimpses of attacking threat themselves, but it was their defensive work that truly shone throughout the game. Five minutes before the interval, Wigan’s Rankine dribbled past three defenders in a dazzling solo run, only to see his shot blocked by a Lincoln wall of bodies. It was a testament to the home side’s resolute defending, as they continued to frustrate Wigan’s attackers.
As the game moved into the final stages, both teams had moments where they could have taken the lead. In a frantic period of play, Wigan’s Aasgaard came closest to breaking the deadlock. His powerful header struck the post, leaving Wigan fans holding their breath. But Lincoln immediately responded with a dangerous counter-attack. Jack Moylan burst into the Wigan box, only to be denied by a superb last-ditch block from Will Aimson, who threw himself at the ball to preserve his side’s clean sheet.
Substitutions were made on both sides to inject fresh energy, with Callum McManaman and Dale Taylor entering for Wigan, and Lincoln’s tactical changes offering brief attacking moments. Yet despite some late pressure from the visitors, Lincoln’s defence, marshalled by captain Paudie O’Connor, stood firm.
In the final minutes, Lincoln almost completed a smash-and-grab victory. Moylan found himself in space inside the Wigan penalty area, but once again, Aimson was there to deny him with a vital intervention. It was a fitting end to a tight contest where both teams found opportunities scarce but demonstrated their defensive strengths.
“We’re disappointed not to get three points,” Skubala told the club media. “I thought it was a game of two halves for us. We started slow in the first half and didn’t get into our rhythm, nor dominate them enough.
“In the second period we were the ones trying to win it and trying to get the goal. We had flashes across the box, shots and moments in their area but just lacked that final ball or final action.
“Defensively, we were set up to be solid but at moments in the first half I felt we were too passive and dropping too low. Our quality on the ball and on the turnover when we’ve usually been quite good in that moment wasn’t there. In the second half we were aggressive, front-footed and a lot better.
“We just couldn’t get that goal, which is the hardest part of the game.”
Although Lincoln had fewer clear-cut chances than their visitors, they will take confidence from the fact they held firm against one of the division’s more fancied sides. The point keeps them in the top six, a morale-boosting position at this early stage of the season.
Writer’s View
This was a textbook example of a resilient Lincoln City performance, one that fans have become accustomed to under Skubala’s tenure. While Wigan enjoyed more possession and created the more dangerous opportunities, Lincoln’s organisation and defensive structure were key to securing the point. Paudie O’Connor and his defensive partners were superb in keeping Wigan at arm’s length for much of the match.
That said, Lincoln will need to offer more in the attacking phase if they are to challenge the top teams in League One. Jack Moylan’s late run was perhaps their best opportunity, but the Imps struggled to string together consistent chances. If Skubala can balance this defensive solidity with more attacking intent, Lincoln could become a real force this season.
