Evolution, not revolution, for Steve

Captain Stephen Warnock reckons the new era at Wigan Athletic under Warren Joyce will be a case of evolution rather than revolution.
Stephen WarnockStephen Warnock
Stephen Warnock

Latics return to action this weekend after the international break with a tough trip to Barnsley, who also won promotion to the Championship from League One last term.

Joyce has had the advantage of an extra week to work with the players at the training ground behind closed doors as he aims to get the side back on track.

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The players have been doing double sessions to increase fitness levels but, that aside, Warnock says it’s been business as usual.

“I wouldn’t say there’s been that much change to be honest,” he told the Evening Post.

“If you look at the last two or three months under the old gaffer, the stats and the training, it was all very tough, there were never any easy days.

“Different managers always have different ways of getting their ideas across, and sometimes it takes a bit of time to get used to that.

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“The lads who came in last year said it took a lot of time to adapt to the way the team was playing, and trust in that way, and I’m sure there will be aspects of that with the new manager as well.”

Warnock also feels the players have a point to prove having, by his own admission, ‘let down’ previous boss Gary Caldwell.

“It’s always difficult when you have a change like that during the season,” the ex-England international acknowledged.

“A lot of people will say it came out of the blue, and you’ve also got to remember that the manager brought in pretty much every single player in the squad during his time.

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“We all felt we let him down – and me being one of those players.

“You want to repay the faith in the manager who brings you in to a club. But as players we have to accept the decision, which we have done, and try and move on to try to pick up results as quickly as we can.”

Joyce is also seeking the first win of his reign, which started in car-crash fashion with Reading’s 3-0 win at the DW on November 5.

“Obviously the start of the game threw us off balance a little bit,” added Warnock.

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“Having gone 2-0 down so early it’s playing into their hands as a counter-attacking side. We’ve been working hard on things this week and last week, and we’ll be trying to bring them into play this weekend.”