Gary Caldwell has issued a clear demand to his Wigan Athletic players ahead of two vital home games: they have to start winning. The Latics manager called for an immediate response after a punishing run of fixtures left the club bottom of League One.
Caldwell addressed his squad following Tuesday night's 3-0 defeat at league leaders Leicester City. "I just said to the players there is no point sitting with your heads down feeling sorry for yourself," he explained. "Stand up, recover and get ready for Saturday, and that starts with what you do in your recovery, and how we prepare on Thursday and Friday to be ready to win at home." The manager believes a positive result can spark a turnaround. "If we get a win or result, I do think the confidence will come," Caldwell said.
Wigan Athletic sit 24th in League One, having taken just seven points from their opening 12 matches. Their record shows two wins, one draw and nine defeats, with a goal difference of minus twelve after scoring eight and conceding twenty. This precarious position has been compounded by a recent run of three consecutive away losses, the latest being that comprehensive defeat at the King Power Stadium where Emil Riis Jakobsen scored twice for Leicester.
The difficult sequence Caldwell referenced included a 2-1 loss at Oxford United on October 20th, followed by a 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield Town three days later, where Christian Saydee scored a late consolation. The 3-0 reverse at Leicester on Tuesday made it three losses in a row on the road.
The focus now shifts to a pair of home games that Caldwell views as critical opportunities. First up is a match against Bromley at the Brick Community Stadium this Saturday, October 31st. That is followed by another home fixture against Mansfield Town next Tuesday evening. "These games are coming thick and fast, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday," Caldwell noted, emphasising the relentless nature of the calendar. The manager insists the responsibility for improvement lies within the dressing room. "It’s pretty clear what the team needs to be better at to win games," he said. "Only we can fix that." Caldwell has promised his team will "work extremely hard in recovery and preparation" for the visit of Bromley, a match that kicks off a key period in Wigan Athletic's season with a lot of points still to play for.
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