Wigan Athletic and Queens Park Rangers have entered the break goalless after an uneventful first half of their Championship playoff semi-final first leg in Lancashire.
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Jordi Gomez's 42nd-minute volley was as close as either side came to an opener, but Robert Green made a strong save at his near post to deny the Spaniard.
Rangers set up to frustrate the hosts, but it was the Hoops who created the only notable opportunities of the first half-hour, as Junior Hoilett dinked from a central position for Armand Traore to head over.
Charlie Austin, QPR's top goalscorer with 18 during the regular season, had previously provided Gary O'Neil with a shooting chance by chesting the ball into his path, only for the midfielder's strike to be well blocked.
The only other incidents which brought the crowd to their feet were a couple of feisty challenges during the middle stages of the half, with Wigan's Gary Caldwell and James McArthur among those cautioned.
Joe Fish
