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It’s now or never, warns Pollitt
MIKE Pollitt is adamant Wigan Athletic have what it takes to drag themselves out of trouble – starting tomorrow at arch-rivals Bolton.
The Farnworth-born goalkeeper (right) was a boyhood Wanderers fan, following them up and down the country before embarking on his own playing career.
No-one knows more about the implications of tomorrow’s game than Pollitt, who turns 40 on February 29.
“When you get used to playing in the Premier League, that’s where you want to stay,” Pollitt told the Evening Post.
“In an ideal world, both teams would stay up, because it’s the only place to be.
“Once you start sliding... everyone knows the Champ-ionship is a tough league to get out of.
“There’s some big teams who have dropped down and never come back.
“But we have to stay positive – we don’t want to be thinking about playing in the Championship.”
Things don’t look good at present for Latics, who have 16 points from 24 matches.
But Pollitt says no-one in the dressing room has given up the ghost just yet.
“Of course we can do it – we can beat anyone on our day,” he insisted.
“It’s just making sure that day happens often enough.
“We’ve had a good chat and we’ve just got to stay together now, roll our sleeves up and do it for one another.
“If we can do that, if we can all stay together, no-one can live with us.
“Everyone has to believe we can get out of trouble.
“It won’t be easy tomorrow, but we’ve got to win. There’s no other way of putting it – we have to win. And we don’t care how we do it. If we play badly and win, nobody’s bothered.
“The ideal scenario is you play well and win, but we’re not bothered any more.
“Points are the only thing that matters, and making sure we have enough to get us out of that bottom three.”
Pollitt is expected to be on the bench, providing experienced back-up to another man with strong Bolton ties, Ali Al Habsi.
Despite not having made a single appearance this term, though, he’ll be preparing meticulously – given all three of his appearances last term came against the Wanderers.
“I’ll make sure I take my boots along because I normally get a game at Bolton,” he laughed.
“Three times I played against them last season – twice in the FA Cup when Ali was ineligible and once in the league when Kirky (Chris Kirkland) got injured.
“I knew I’d be playing in the FA Cup, but the league game was bizarre, coming on for the last 20 minutes.
“I had a few saves to make as we held on for a point, and I did get a bit of stick from my mates who are all Bolton fans, but it was all good in the end because we managed to hold on for a point.”
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Weather for Wigan
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 6 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
mona
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 03:09 PMTry Wiganer.net under "sun article".
Stuart T
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 12:55 PMOwd Bryner - Not sure if I can put links on but try this au.sports.yahoo.comfootballnewsarticle . Could be just the press, but as they say no smoke without fire?
wisechoice
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 11:31 PMMike i recall a recent Wigan Athletic posting every game’s a cup final from now on in. No better man for the job then is there given you were unlucky to be stretchered of in wigan Athletics biggest game ever according to Dr Ashworth “who i presented “sports medicine to” Dr Ashworth had no idea what it was, then again he is a Dr. This was several years ago? As for the game Wigan Athletic cup final within Wembley against Manchester United, apparently Dr Ashworth spent the second half in dressing room with you? If you ever needed motivation speech no better time than now to say it, because one never knows when ones last game is. Truefalse
owd bryner
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 09:48 PMStuart T just had a look on Yahoo myself but could`nt see anything about what you say about Dave Whelan looked in the latics Club profile section but nothing Dave Whelan is still the Club Chairman so better tell MONA to put the Champagne back on ice. ye and also Good Luck to the latics at game tomorro againts that bolton lot. jees its freezing cold in that ground.
owd bryner
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 09:35 PMStuart T just had a look on Yahoo myself could`nt see anything about what you say about latics chairman Dave Whelan selling up. Looked in the latics section but nothing there Dave Whelan stilll the club chairman were did you see it better tell MONA to put the Champagne back on ice
Stuart T
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 06:06 PMGood Luck Wigan - MONA - Your wishes may come true, I have just read this on Yahoo - Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan could be about to sell up. The Sun says there are whispers that rock-bottom Wigan could be the next Premier League club to change owners. And if the rumoured identity of the people behind moves to tempt chairman Whelan to sell up is correct, there are tricky times ahead for the football authorities. If he does sell, we must all thank him for where he has taken us, we have a great ground, a good club and maybe soon, a good gate!
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