Wigan Athletic boss happy to see confidence coming back

Latics picked up their first victory of the season at the fourth time of asking, coming from a goal down at half-time to score six goals in a sensational second-half display.

Charlie Jolley (2), Olly Crankshaw (2), Kal Naismith and Joe Garner (penalty) did the damage, which should see the side travel to Portsmouth on Saturday with a spring in its step.

"It was an excellent performance against a very good team," enthused Sheridan.

"It's just nice to win football matches after the start to the season.

"And in the second half, when we got in and around them, I thought we were excellent.

"Listen, you want to win any game of football you're involved in, and it's very pleasing.

"No matter the competition, any game you win will breed confidence, and that's going to boost us ahead of Portsmouth on Saturday."

The game changed with the half-time introduction from the bench of Naismith, and his performance - alongside skipper-for-the-night Lee Evans - laid down a marker for others to follow.

"We wanted to involve as many of the players as possible," acknowledged Sheridan.

"If I'm a player, I want to play matches rather than train, and we've used it to get fitness into a few lads.

"For the youngsters, it's obviously another opportunity for them in the first team, so it's a good work-out for everybody."

Sheridan also reserved special praise for Jolley, who might have had a hat-trick against his hometown team only for talisman Garner to pull rank with the late spot-kick.

"I know he's a little bit disappointed he didn't get the ball off Joe Garner for the penalty!" laughed Sheridan.

"But he worked his socks off, and he probably should have had more goals, such was his quality."