Dave: Wake-up call should Perk us up

Latics hit a speed-bump down in Essex, having to rely on Will Grigg’s 90th-minute equaliser to secure a 3-3 draw against League One’s bottom side.

With all of their immediate promotion rivals winning, it cranks up the pressure on Perkins and Co for the run-in.

“I’m enjoying the pressure – although it would have been nicer to have won on Saturday,” he told Wigan Today.

“That would have given us a bit of a cushion, but maybe it’ll act as a wake-up call.

“It’s another game unbeaten, and another point closer to where we want to be.”

Next up this weekend is the visit of Bradford, who gave Latics a thorough physical examination in the corresponding fixture at Valley Parade back in October that ended 1-1.

“They’ve got some big lads up top and we’ll have to be aware of that,” Perkins acknowledged. “I remember them having around seven corners in a row the last time we played them, and we managed to defend quite well on the whole.

“If we win the battle, we’ll win the game – it’s as simple as that really.

“It’s a case of rolling up your sleeves and fighting for the three points.”

It was a mixed return to Colchester at the weekend for Perkins, who spent three successful seasons there between 2008-11 before moving back up north to Barnsley,

While delighted to bump into some old friends, and play well on a personal level, he was frustrated at not getting the three points to celebrate.

“We were very disappointed to only get a point, especially after leading twice,” he added.

“We have to move on, and we’ll take the point, which is better than nothing.

“You never know how important that point could be at the end of the season, so we’ll take it.”