Ryan Lowe acknowledges Wigan Athletic's Achilles heel - 'I don't want that'

The head coach was speaking after Saturday's desperately disappointing home defeat against Bolton Wanderers - Latics' third loss in the fixture since Lowe took charge last March.

On the back of the previous weekend's FA Cup victory at Championship high-flyers Preston North End - arguably the best display of the season - it was a very sobering return to reality.

And Lowe was in full agreement that Latics have to find some degree of consistency if they are to generate any level of momentum.

"We can't," he said. "And you're right, it is a case of one step forward and one step back.

"We have to find that consistency, and that momentum...and it's evident from all around...to me, the players, the staff, everyone connected to the football club, the fans.

"We desperately need that little bit of consistency and momentum...because keep taking one step forward and one step back, another one forward and another one back...and I don't want that.

"We need to really strive now to put in a string of performances, and results, and try to climb up that table as quickly as possible."

Josh Sheehan scored the only goal at the Brick, which meant a first derby double for Bolton over their closest geographical rivals since 1992/93.

"It was also the first time this club had beaten Preston North End in 20-odd years last week, so we can't have it all my own way," was Lowe's retort.

"Look, I understand the games against our derby rivals are not good on my part, and it's not nice losing to them.

"This club had a good run in beating them over the years. The last three haven't gone our way, and we've got to wait until next season potentially to put that right.

"For the here and now, all we can do is focus on the next one, and to do that we need to recover from the bitter disappointment of losing this one."

Only another fine performance from Sam Tickle - who made a string of fine saves to deny Xavier Simons, Max Conway and Sam Dalby - had kept Latics in the game until the closing stages.

He was eventually beaten by Sheehan's blistering strike from distance, which appeared to move in the air and wrongfooted the Wigan goalkeeper.

"We all thought it had taken a deflection, but I think Sam was just unsighted," assessed Lowe. "We haven't dealt with the ball that's come in, and they've been able to get a free man in that area of the pitch.

"We've then turned our back on it, and Sam says he was unsighted when he's hit it...maybe Carra (James Carragher) was in the way.

"It's gone down the middle of the goal, and that never happens with Sam...but when you head balls away like that, and leave men completely free on the edge of the area...it's just schoolboy stuff.

"It's a shame for Sam because he made some great saves to keep us in the game, and he just got blindsided by that one."