Latics guest column - Matt Gilks

Although we defended very well, we just couldn’t get that goal.

I think we showed in the performance how determined we were to get the win.

We fought for every single ball from the first minute until the last.

Unfortunately we came up against a very solid Cardiff side, and it just didn’t fall for us.

We’ve got two games left now, and obviously we have to try and win them both.

Relying on other results as well is never ideal, it’s always a difficult position to be in.

Obviously other teams won’t have as much riding on it as we do, and it can determine our fate.

All we can do is keep going as long as we can, and see where that takes us at the end of the season.

Sometimes you just have to hold up your hands and admit you’re not good enough.

I have to say the morale in the camp is still high – and it has to be that way.

When there’s still things to be played for you have to stay as positive as you can.

We can’t be going into the remaining two games in any way negative.

We’re all staying upbeat about the situation.

Of course we know Reading down at their place will be a very difficult game.

But we have to try and go there full of confidence and believing we can get the win.

We’ll be going up against Al Al Habsi this weekend – who is well known to both this club and me personally.

I used to train with Ali when he was at Bolton years ago, and he’s a great lad.

He’s obviously a top-class goalkeeper and he’s having a very good season indeed.

It’s nice to see he’s still so well thought of here at Wigan, and I think that says a lot about the fella.

He’s a great pro and it’s great to see him playing so well.

To be fair, Reading have been very consistent all year – and that’s exactly what this league’s all about.

You never want to be losing games, but if you can hold on for a draw when you’re not playing well, it keeps your run going.

Consistency is key when you’re going for promotion, and they’ve kept it up right to the end.

Good luck to them and they look a decent bet to go up through the play-offs.

Newcastle clinched promotion earlier this week, and they were always expected to go straight back up.

Brighton have also had a fantastic year, and they’ve done so well after knocking on the door last season.

Congratulations to the pair of them, but there’s plenty to play for with regards the teams below them.

On a personal note, it was good to be back in the side last weekend.

One minute I was out of the team and the next I was back in.

Unfortunately Jakob (Haugaard) got the injury and he’s gone back to Stoke. Hopefully he recovers well.

I’ve known Graham (Barrow) pretty much all my career, and I can understand it was a very difficult thing for him to sit in front of me and tell me.

But I appreciate he did it like that.

He’s a very honest man, I’ve got a lot of respect for him, and I was never going to start shouting at him.

There was no point in either of us falling out about it.

In the situation we’re in, it didn’t need me giving it the big ‘hoo haa’.

I’ve heard the gaffer suggesting the other week I might be able to get my place in the Scotland squad if I can hold my form.

And from my point of view that’s great to hear.

If I get that phone call, I’d be straight there – it never leaves you.

No question about that.

If we do suffer the drop into League One, everyone at the club would be doing everything they can to get back up.

We can try to use this year as a learning curve, so that next time we can learn from our mistakes and do better.

It’s all about rebuilding, hopefully keeping the squad together, getting the right manager in to do the job and hopefully coming straight back up.