Wigan Athletic boss forced into rethink

Paul Cook admits the failure to wrap up the League One title at the weekend has caused him to reassess his Wigan Athletic team selection for Saturday's final game of the campaign at Doncaster.
Paul CookPaul Cook
Paul Cook

Latics still require a point at the Keepmoat to secure the title, with second-placed Blackburn facing a comfortable-looking fixture at home to Oxford.

That means the big guns will be wheeled out for one more outing, rather than given the day off as Cook had been planning.

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Had there been nothing riding on the game, Cook says he would have been tempted to rotate, which may have meant a first appearance of the season for Shaun MacDonald – back from a broken leg – as well as veterans David Perkins and Noel Hunt who are out of contract in the summer.

“We all wanted to go to Doncaster having already wrapped up the league, and able to enjoy the day,” Cook acknowledged.

“We could have been looking maybe at playing some players who haven’t played much, players who have been injured, players who are leaving the club.

“Unfortunately we have to go full tilt and we’ll take the challenge when it comes. We must try our best to put that last page in the book, and make it a really great year.

“We’ve sold over 4,000 tickets for Saturday, and those are the best days of your life as a fan.

“The excitement has already begun, and hopefully we can deliver the title which the fans deserve.”