Latics foiled by Vale keeper

CLOSE . . . Carl Winchester

ATHLETIC 0, PORT VALE 0

A STUNNING save from Jak Alnwick helped deliver a point for Port Vale.

Carl Winchester connected with a header from six yards out in the 68th minute from an inviting Darius Osei cross, but Alnwick somehow clawed the ball out.

And in added time, Billy Mckay was also foiled by Alnwick as his shot was tipped onto a post amid a frantic finale.

Freddie Ladapo failed to find the target in the first half and despite Athletic's almost total dominance at SportsDirect.com Park, it was ultimately another afternoon of frustration.

Sam Kelly extended Connor Ripley in the first half with a 20-yard volley he tipped over, after Ladapo had missed when set in on goal by a neat Ryan Flynn pass.

Athletic threw the kitchen sink at it after the interval but were unable to make the breakthrough, despite Mckay's best efforts, failing to register a goal for the fourth game running.