Match report: Wigan 0 PNE 0
Hugill saw the 10th minute spot-kick parried by Matt Gilks, with the Latics goalkeeper blocking the rebound from Hugill too.
It was the best chance of a scrappy game which was low in quality - neither side managed a shot on target in the second half.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdNorth End were backed by 4,765 supporters in the away end, all of them handed Simon Grayson masks to celebrate the PNE manager's four years in charge.
In the fourth minute, Omar Bogle got room down the left side of the box, his low shot forcing Chris Maxwell into a good save at the near post, Bogle's follow-up header cleared by Greg Cunningham.
Daryl Horgan had North End's first opening, his shot from 20 yards after an exchange of passes with Alan Browne, travelling just wide.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe penalty came in the 10th minute when Callum Robinson went down under a challenge from behind by Bogle a couple of yards inside the box.
Referee Chris Kavanagh pointed straight to the box and it was Hugill who asked for the ball straight away.
Hugill put it low to the keeper's left, Gilks diving that way and parrying it back to Hugill.
The striker should have buried the rebound but put it too close to Gilks who smothered the second effort.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIt was only the second penalty PNE had been awarded this season, Daniel Johnson who took the previous one against Blackburn in December, among the substitutes here.
North End had a spell when they got on top, Horgan sending a 20-yard shot dipping just over the bar while a Robinson shot on the turn lacked power and allowed Gilks to save easily.
Wigan had a penalty shout of their own when Bogle went down in the box from Paul Huntington's tackle but Mr Kavanagh signalled the PNE centre-half had won the ball.
A minute into the second half, Ben Pearson's run from midfield took him to the edge of the home box, the midfielder's low shot going wide of the far post.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSimon Grayson made a double change in the 63rd minute, Hugill and Robinson replaced by Simon Makienok and Jermaine Beckford.
Three minutes after coming on, Beckford tried an ambitious effort to chip Gilks from 45 yards after spotting the keeper off his line, but the effort sailed too high.
A superb piece of defending from Greg Cunningham kept the scoreline blank in the 76th minute, Bogle poised to shoot 10 yards out when the Irishman came across to get in a sliding block and allow Maxwell to smother.
There were scraps of action in the closing stages but neither side managed a shot on target in the second half.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIt was the first goalless draw in a league game between the two teams.
Wigan: Gilks, Connolly, Burn, Buxton, Warnock, Power (Hanson 77), MacDonald (Perkins 85), Morsy, Tunnicliffe, Grigg, Bogle. Subs (not used): Obertan, Laurent, Mandron, Weir, Roberts.
PNE: Maxwell, Browning, Clarke, Huntington, Cunningham, Horgan (Barkhuizen 82), Pearson, Browne, McGeady, Hugill (Makienok 63), Robinson (Beckford 83). Subs (not used): Johnson, May. Boyle, Lindegaard.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Manchester)
Attendance: 15,117 (4,765 PNE)