Wigan boss Shaun Maloney felt his side should have forced their first league win in four attempts before they were held to a 1-1 League One draw at relegation-threatened Crawley.
Charlie Barker’s first-half leveller rescued a point for the hosts after Dale Taylor had put Wigan ahead but the Latics could not find a way of winning the game, despite dominating after the break.
Wigan have won only two of nine league games since Boxing Day.
Maloney said: “We played well. Crawley are very good at keeping possession, but we were good with the ball and we should have won that game.
“It was a full team performance. There’s nothing negative I can say – I’m disappointed we didn’t win.”
Latics – the lowest scorers in the division – forced 17 corners, and Maloney added: “It felt a very good performance and I am glad it was the way it was.
“It’s a really difficult journey and the away support was good. I hope they enjoyed the performance.”
Crawley boss Rob Elliot conceded that three home games in the space of seven days caught up with his men and he did not think failing to win was a missed opportunity.
The Red Devils, with only one home win in the last three months, are two points from safety and Elliot said: “It wasn’t a missed opportunity.
“Before the game, yes it is a great opportunity, but when you see the physicality, you have to be honest and say ‘Wigan were better than us’.
“We are tired, we are exhausted to be honest. But the lads defended and did everything so well.
“We still ground it out. I think ultimately, sometimes you have to take the point and move on and I have told the players this.”
Crawley’s last three games have resulted in five points being taken and Elliot added: “We would have liked it to have been more but it’s five good points and we need to reset, recover and look forward to Saturday (away at Blackpool).
“I’m disappointed we weren’t able to control the game more. We weren’t able to implement our patterns, but fair play to Wigan – they were probably the better team.”
