No magic solution to Wigan Athletic's '˜dip' in form

Latics have won only once in the last five matches ahead of Wednesday night’s trip to Bradford, the latest coming at the weekend when only a late goal from Gary Roberts rescued a point against Scunthorpe.

“As far as I’m concerned it’s about keeping the same message – the season is long, 46 games, and you’ll have highs and lows within that,” assessed Cook.

“Since we lost at home to Bradford in October, we’ve only lost two games! But you’re always judged by your last game for some reason.

“We’ve had a couple of players who haven’t played as well in the last couple of games as they have over the course of the season.

“That’s football – and they need my support now, not anything else.

“We’ll keep working hard, and pressing teams, and our quality will come through.

“We went nine games and we only conceded one goal, from the penalty spot.

“We thought we were invincible – but of course we’re not. We’re human like everyone else.

“I know people will look at the cup run, and different stuff, but come on.

“Our lads have had an outstanding season, and we need to stay on the bike now.”

Wednesday night’s game is strangely the first at home for Bradford boss Simon Grayson, despite being appointed several weeks ago.

“Simon’s not had a game for a couple of weeks now, so he’ll have had a lot of time on the training ground with his lads,” recognised Cook.

“He’ll have been hoping to put his stamp on things, and how he wants them to play.

“How that will come across, we don’t know, we’re not privy to that.

“All we do know is that they’ve got some very good players – which we saw at our place in the corresponding fixture.

“For whatever reason, they’re in the league position they’re in.

“But we know we’re in for a game between two good teams, with a lot of good footballers on the pitch.”