IT SEEMS only the end of the season can halt Burnley's momentum as they climbed to their highest position of the campaign on the back of a tenth successive game without defeat.

Paul Crichton's penalty save moments before half-time, which could have serious ramifications for Wigan's promotion challenge, ensured a share of the points and hoisted the Clarets to 13th-place in the Second Division.

And Crichton's heroics mean the keeper, who was given a baptism of fire on his arrival from West Bromwich Albion last November when the goals rained in around him, has now been beaten only once in five games.

Not a bad record for team that had shipped 68 goals and boasted the worst defensive record in the division going into the last Bank Holiday a month ago.

Wigan are the third highest scorers at this level, which could yet prove crucial if they are to pip Bournemouth for the final play-off spot, and knew that they would move into sixth place with a win at sun-soaked Springfield Park yesterday. But despite having secured their safety on Saturday, Burnley refused to lie down in the face of a brave effort by the leg-weary home side, playing their sixth game in 10 days with another to come before the weekend, and resolutely protected their proud unbeaten run.

Not losing may have been the priority for a Clarets side without Andy Payton and Steve Davis, who finally gave way to a painful hernia problem which will require surgery later this week.

But the visitors did employ Glen Little in a forward position to support Andy Cooke, and had enough chances to conjure up at least one goal of their own.

Their finishing was not as red-hot as the weather, however, and the returning Brian Reid was denied by Roy Carroll's brilliant save at the end of a lively first half.

Yet defeat would have been rough on Wigan who are being handicapped by their success in winning the Auto Windscreens Shield and for the poor quality of their pitch which forced this game and others to be postponed at the first time of asking.

Wading through a fixture backlog in cricket rather than football conditions for the past week, the Latics could have done without facing Burnley in their current mood.

If a successful side is built on solid foundations then the Clarets are certainly moving in the right direction, although they do miss the predatory skills of Payton.

Wigan have an embarrassment of riches in the striking department, but couldn't find a goal when it mattered most.

Stuart Barlow, ex-Everton, Simon Haworth, a big-money buy from Coventry, and former Scottish under-21 international Andy Liddell all went close in an end-to-end first half but Paul Crichton and the woodwork stood in their way.

Little, Paul Cook and Micky Mellon were the catalysts for Burnley's attacks and Little curled a shot just over during a productive purple patch for the winger-turned-striker. And two pieces of magic from Little almost broke a deadlock that remained intact when Crichton dived left to block a poorly struck spot-kick from Carl Bradshaw after Tom Cowan and floored Haworth.

Reid was so close to being the beneficiary from a cross from the left, Carroll tipping the defender's close-range header over the top, before Little went it alone as Burnley responded to Bradshaw's miss.

Collecting a short corner, Little darted between two Wigan defenders and his curling, angled effort beat Carroll only to come back off the bar.

The second period belonged, in terms of territory, to Wigan as they upped the pressure in search of the win that could have paved their way to a return trip to Wembley following their Shield final win over Millwall.

But Burnley held firm and limited their sights at goal.

Crichton made two fine saves, firstly when recovering well to palm away a Barlow effort after Howarth's blocked drive had already committed him.

And then when he matched Carroll's agility from the first period when tipping Stuart Balmer's close-range header onto the top of the bar. But if anything summed up Burnley's desire to remain unbeaten until the end of the season it was blocks by Chris Brass and Lenny Johnrose, who threw themselves in front of efforts from Barlow and Michael O'Neill in a frantic finale which also saw Haworth head wide when well placed.

Disappointment then for Wigan but they could still sneak into the play-offs by gaining two more draws and seeing Bournemouth lose at home to Wrexham in their final game.

They should be grateful, therefore, that Burnley didn't make the most of several highly promising breaks which caught the home side short-handed at the back.

Little and the impressive Mellon were invariably the instigators but the final touch was missing, never more evident than when Mellon picked out the unmarked Andy Cooke who lifted his shot over the top nine minutes from time.

A missed chance may no longer be critical for Burnley. But not losing is apparently still very important.

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