Spurs warm up for Madrid with poor 0-0 with Wigan

Posted Sunday, April 03, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

WIGAN, England (AP)—Tottenham looked out of form Saturday as it warmed up for next week’s Champions League meeting with Real Madrid with a 0-0 Premier League draw at Wigan.

The home side could even have clinched victory and eased its relegation worries in the process three minutes from the end.

Connor Sammon was released by fellow substitute Mohamed Diame, but sent his shot straight at Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

The draw left fifth-place Tottenham with 50 points from 30 matches, three fewer than fourth-place Manchester City and five more than Liverpool. Wigan stayed in last place.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was without the injured Gareth Bale and William Gallas and watched his side pose little attacking threat against a Wigan side that won 1-0 at White Hart Lane earlier this season—the only team to win away to Spurs in the Premier League.

Spurs playmaker Luka Modric burst forward in the 15th minute and had a shot blocked by James McCarthy and Roman Pavlyuchenko made an unsuccessful appeal for a penalty after a challenge by the same player. Other than a shot from Jermaine Jenas that was saved by goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi, Tottenham managed few other chances.

Wigan’s Victor Moses put one shot wide and another too high, and had an appeal for a penalty dismissed by referee Andre Marriner after appearing to have his legs clipped by Benoit Assou-Ekotto.