Time to evoke Wigan Athletic 'spirit of old'

Tuesday’s 1-0 home defeat to Peterborough means Latics have lost their last four matches, to drop into the bottom four in League One.

However, as one of the few survivors from last season, Naismith has been here before and has the t-shirt – and points to revivals after similar poor runs under Paul Cook’s management as proof of the ups and downs in football.

“It’s not quite breaking for us, and I think we have been here before,” said Naismith.

“The club’s been here before in the Championship when things are going against you, and you’re in a bit of a rut and you can’t get going and things seem to go against you.

“What we need is to get a hard-earned point or maybe nick a last-minute goal, which would build that togetherness and team spirit because we are a new group.

“And if we can grind out a result we can build from there and kick on.”

Naismith is well aware there is no magic formula attached to turning things around – just hard work.

“What will turn us into a good side is hard work staying together, working with what we have got and just to work a bit harder when the chips are down and come in and work hard,” he said.

“We can’t turn on each other and we need to keep working together.

“As I said, we’ll grind out a 0-0 and it might not seem important at the time, but it can give you that little bit to build on and gel as a squad.”

Next up for Latics is Saturday’s visit of another promotion-chasing side in Plymouth – but Naimsmith isn’t complaining about the schedule.

“As footballers you sometimes feel a bit leggy and your body feels sore,” the former Rangers and Portsmouth man assessed.

“But I don’t think there is one footballer out there who would say they don’t want to play a game on Saturday and don’t want to play a game on Tuesday.

“I think at the minute just having games helps. It’s good to get in and train and work hard and just try and grow as a side.

“But results in football are huge and they build a bond between the team and the togetherness.

“It does so much other than putting points on the board. I think we just need a hard-fought win.”

The 28-year-old again played down the right-hand side against Peterborough, and his stoppage-time shot which hit the far post was the closest Latics came to finding the net.

Having played in several positions already this term, Naismith is now hoping to put some roots down in midfield – to cement a regular berth and find his best form.

“I’ll play anywhere for the team if it helps the team,” he added. “The manager moved me about last season, but that was amazing for me to experience playing different roles and it helps my game grow and becoming a better all-round footballer, which I learned so much from.

“I’ve played five or six different positions in the first six games and then back-to-back games in one position.

“I felt more comfortable on Tuesday than last week, just because it’s a completely different fitness and completely different movements.

“At my age I just need a run of games in one position to show what I can do.”