Gary Caldwell has urged his Wigan Athletic players to embrace the challenge of facing League One leaders Sheffield Wednesday. The Latics head to Hillsborough on Saturday sitting 24th in the table with just three points from five games, a stark contrast to their unbeaten hosts.
Caldwell, in his second spell as Wigan boss, is clear-eyed about the task. "It's a challenge that should appeal to us and one that we should look forward to," he said. The fixture is the first meeting between the sides in over four years and pits the division's top team against its bottom side.
The manager acknowledged the intimidating atmosphere awaiting his team. "Hillsborough is a very difficult place to go," Caldwell stated. "I would call it a real traditional stadium. It's always full and full of energy." He believes performing in such an environment reveals a team's character, suggesting a positive result there shows you "have 'a bit about you'."
The campaign has been a struggle, with four defeats in five league matches. Their only victory was a 3-1 win against MK Dons just over a week ago, a result Caldwell described as "magnificent." That high was quickly followed by a sobering home defeat to Stockport County last Saturday, a result that leaves them nine points behind Sheffield Wednesday.
Caldwell is preaching patience, reflecting on a slow rebuild. "Rome wasn't built in a day, it takes time," he noted, using the example of Arsenal's long journey to the top. He views Wigan as being "at the very beginning" of a similar process and calls the squad "very much a work in progress." The immediate focus, however, is on halting the slide, with the team's recent form reading two wins and three losses from their last five outings.
The manager will hope for a reaction from his players after the heavy Stockport loss, where Kyle Wootton, Harry Wood, Jayden Diamond and Ryan Glover scored for the visitors. Caldwell's side have conceded 11 goals already this season while scoring only five. He must now prepare his team for a fixture that represents the toughest possible test, away to a Wednesday side that has won four of its opening five games. The full schedule, including this key trip, is available on the fixtures page. Wigan's next match after Hillsborough is yet to be confirmed.
