Wigan exhibit all those virtues, never mind that they are newcomers to the Nationwide League first division.
Better finishing would have seen them record their seventh league win, against Cardiff City last night, but they will not be too disheartened at extending their unbeaten run to 11 matches and making it only one goal conceded in their past five games.
Not that Paul Jewell, the Wigan manager, was overjoyed as his team slipped one place to third in the table. "We needed a little more quality in the final third . . . we could have passed it a bit more," he said. Still, his tactical plan worked. "It was pretty tight. We didn’t want to come here and make it an open game," he added.
Lennie Lawrence, his Cardiff counterpart, was pleased that his side did not concede a goal. "We’ve let no goals in (in the past two matches) and I am well happy with that," he said.
"We did some nice things but we didn’t have quite enough to win. Their pressurising was more effective than our passing. That’s the first team we’ve played that genuinely pressurise you. They get in your face."
It was a smash-and-grab raid without the grab as Wigan defended stoutly, looked menacing on the counter-attack, and despite creating few clear chances would have won had Geoff Horsfield converted either of two excellent opportunities in the second half.
Wigan gave up just nine goals away from home last season as they cruised to promotion while Cardiff, who finished 19 points behind them, took the stressful but more scenic route of an ascent via the play-offs.
Wigan have already shipped five on their travels this term, but even so the all-round soundness that is at the core of their continued success was evident as they kept what before kick-off was the most free-scoring side in the division at bay.
Not that Cardiff were subdued. Peter Thorne and Robert Earnshaw missed decent opportunities, while Richard Langley had a late chance to claim all three points for the home side. However, he launched his free kick from the edge of the penalty area high over the crossbar. It summed up a game in which the possibility of goals was always there, but neither side could seize it.
"They were probably the toughest team physically we’ve come across so far," Langley said. "They’re a solid unit. We were going to try and rely on our passing to break them down."
It did, but only sporadically. As with last season, Cardiff’s game is a mixture of purple patches and grey areas. They are an almost irresistible attacking force when Earnshaw is on song but never seem secure at the back.
Still, a 3-0 win over Crewe Alexandra on Saturday that halted a run of three successive defeats has given the locals belief that another promotion push is more likely than a relegation battle. "I’m confident there’s nothing to fear (in the first division)," Langley said. Especially not now that Cardiff have locked horns with one of the toughest teams and come out even.
CARDIFF CITY (4-4-2): N Alexander — R Weston, T Vidmar, D Gabbidon, C Barker — R Langley, G Kavanagh, W Boland, M Bonner — R Earnshaw, P Thorne. Substitutes not used: A Campbell, J Collins, G Croft, S Prior, M Margetson. Booked: Thorne.
WIGAN ATHLETIC (4-4-2): J Filan — N Eaden, M Jackson, I Breckin, S McMillan — A Liddell (sub: G Teale, 64min), T Dinning, J Bullard, P Kennedy — G Horsfield, N Ellington (sub: N Roberts, 71). Substitutes not used: P Mitchell, G Walsh, J Jarrett. Booked: Dinning, Jackson.
Referee: R Styles.
REPORT FROM THE TIMES.