Wigan Athletic ace on home comforts and his 'instinctive' combo with Cedric Kipre

That run kicks-off this weekend, with rock-bottom Luton Town providing the opposition for the Championship’s form side.

And Balogun – who hasn’t yet tasted defeat in five games, since arriving on loan from Brighton – wants the Latics fans to act as a 12th Man to see the side home.

“The support will be crucial for the run-in,” he told the Wigan Post.

“We have to deal with this situation and the more people we see out in the stadium standing with us, the better it is for us.

“We also have the responsibility to reward the fans and give back – it’s give and take.

“There may yet be further setbacks along the way, let’s be brutally honest.

“But then it’s about not going back into your shell, like a cancer, but standing up to the next challenge, and the one after that, and we need to stand together.

“If you are doing the right things but keep taking the hits and the negative results, it’s easy to lose a bit of faith and belief.

“But you have to get that back, and I feel the last few games have shown the team has been getting there, slowly but surely.

“I’m not saying we will necessarily end the season well, but we have given ourselves a good chance to do so.”

Balogun has quickly become one of the first names on the Latics team sheet thanks to a string of consistent displays alongside centre-back partner Cedric Kipre.

With Chey Dunkley joining Danny Fox in being ruled out for the season, much will rely on the duo’s continued form – and fitness.

And Balogun says he’s enjoyed forming a fledgling alliance at the back with Kipre.

“A lot of defending is about instinct, and doing things automatically without thinking,” he added.

“For example if there is a long ball played, one will go to the ball and the other will drop back.

“It’s basics first and foremost – you have to know when to go and when to stay – and everything else is fine tuning.

“But that comes with experience, with reading the game, and he is doing very well at that for someone so young.

“It’s not been too much of a challenge to get a partnership and understanding going, because he is such an intelligent player to play alongside.”

Balogun is expected to face Luton, having been substituted during the second half of last weekend’s 1-0 win at West Brom after being sick.