Wigan Athletic manager Gary Caldwell described the past week as 'horrific' following the sudden death of goalkeeping coach Kevin Miller. The 57-year-old former Premier League goalkeeper's passing cast a shadow over a 1-0 home defeat to Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.
Caldwell said his team had been affected by the loss. "It’s obviously been a horrific week for us and I thought even Wycombe were affected by it as well at the start of the game," the manager told reporters. "I’m disappointed to lose the game but we’ve had bigger things to think about this week."
The club observed a minute's applause before kick-off and again in the 57th minute in tribute to Miller's age. Wycombe striker Jayden Wareham, a former colleague of Miller's at Exeter City, placed a wreath behind a goal before the match began.
The emotional occasion was settled by a single goal midway through the second half. Dan Casey headed home for the visitors in the 68th minute, a strike that condemned Wigan to a fourth loss in seven League One games this season. The result leaves the Latics 24th in the table with just four points, a position detailed in our standings. Caldwell admitted the performance was not good enough, calling the game 'strange' and acknowledging his side did not create enough clear chances.
Wycombe's interim manager Tom Hounsell expressed delight at securing three points, which helped his side pull away from the relegation zone. He said tactical changes made at half-time paid off quickly.
The loss continues a difficult start to the campaign for Wigan, who have conceded 12 goals while scoring only five. Their recent form reads one win, one draw and three losses from the last five outings. You can review the full schedule, including the recent 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday, on the club's fixtures page.
Caldwell said the team must improve on the pitch moving forward, but the immediate focus remains on paying respects. Wigan Athletic's next match is away to 13th-placed Leicester on 26 September, a fixture that presents a tough challenge as they look to climb the table. The manager will likely lean on his full squad for that trip as the club continues to process its loss.
Read the full report at Manchester Evening News
