Sky Bet Championship: Malky Mackay happy with Wigan's draw against Ipswich
Sunday 1 February 2015 21:38, UK
Wigan boss Malky Mackay felt it was impossible to tell which team were fighting relegation and which were challenging for promotion as his side upset the odds by holding high-flying Ipswich to a goalless draw.
Championship strugglers Wigan more than matched their hosts at Portman Road, although the clash was largely forgettable with chances few and far between.
Mackay offered no apologies about the entertainment on offer as his players showed they had the stomach for a relegation scrap as they look to close a seven-point gap to safety.
He said: "I think we were terrific. I have watched Ipswich four times this season as a neutral and I knew they grinded teams down before scoring and winning - that is why they are near the top of the league.
"We had to make sure we matched that and we did. There was very little between the two teams. Anyone watching that game couldn't have said who was near the top and who was near the bottom."
The Wigan boss also revealed he was aiming to bring in reinforcements to aid their survival battle.
In a week where some of the club's big names have left, Mackay added: "We are starting to get a team in my image and the way I want to play.
"Anyone I bring in, whether it is on loan or permanent, has to have hunger and fire in their belly and hopefully we can get at least another two before Monday."
In a poor match, Jay Tabb missed the best first-half chance for Ipswich when he was released by Tyrone Mings but opted to shoot over from an angle with team-mates arguably in a better position.
Second-half chances were as rare as in the opening 45 minutes. David McGoldrick headed straight at Ali Al Habsi for the hosts while an alert Freddie Sears beat his marker but also hit straight at the Wigan stopper.
At the other end, James Perch brushed a header just wide but the game drifted to an inevitable conclusion.
Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy said: "I'm not going to make any excuses. Neither side played very well. We didn't deserve to win the game so I am delighted with the point from the game.
"I have always said we are not that good that we are going to win every game. But it takes about 75 points to make the play-offs so we now need 24.
"The key to getting results in any division is grinding out points, especially when you are not playing well.
"If you look through Wigan's team, you can't tell me that's a team in the bottom three. They ought to be challenging where we are.
"They made it really hard for us. If I was Malky, I would think that's a magnificent point."
