Jacobs says Wigan Athletic have title '˜mentality'

Latics are now in pole position and in charge of their own destiny, with six cup finals to come – starting with this weekend’s visit of Rotherham.

But Jacobs is refusing to take anything for granted, at least until Blackburn and Shrewsbury are mathematically out of the equation.

“It’s been a three-horse race for quite some time, and everyone’s been expecting Shrewsbury to fall away,” he told the Wigan Post.

“Credit to them, they’ve stayed right up there to then end, Blackburn as well, and we’re preparing for it to go all the way.

“We’ve just got to try and win every game, because you’ve got to assume the other teams are going to win all their matches as well.

“As a group that’s been our mentality for the whole season to be fair, and nothing will change for the last six games.”

Wigan’s latest win came in midweek at Rochdale, a 4-1 triumph at Spotland illuminated by a sparkling goal from Jacobs on the hour mark to put the game beyond the home side.

Having scored the only goal in Wigan’s narrow win over Dale in the corresponding fixture at the DW back in February, Jacobs will look back on his brushes with Keith Hill’s side this term with some satisfaction.

And in particular his latest goal – taking him to a career-high 11 for the season – which saw him beat his marker twice on a sixpence, going left and right, before firing in from the edge of the box.

“I had a bit of the jitters to be honest as I was shooting,” he laughed.

“I’ve scored a couple with my left of late, but at the last minute I decided it was for the right foot.

“It was great to see it fly in, and to keep contributing is great for me.

“I went through a spell earlier in the season when I didn’t feel I was contributing enough.

“But since the Rochdale game at the end of February, it’s given me a kickstart and I want to keep this level up now.

“It was always going to be a tough game, given they’d only lost one in nine – and that to us at the DW Stadium.

“They managed to beat Shrewsbury the other week, and I do think they’ll get out of it because they’re a good side.

“Thankfully the first goal managed to calm us down a little bit, and we managed to put away a few chances in the second half.”

Latics are looking to repeat their success at Rotherham just before Christmas with another three points that would see them take another huge stride towards a return to the Championship.

“We played very well at Rotherham earlier in the season and managed to come away with a good win,” Jacobs added.

“They’ll need to come with a positive attitude to keep their play-off push on track, but that will also suit us.”