Wigan Athletic guest column - Callum McManaman

It would have been nice to get the win on a personal level.

In fact, I was saying to the lads before the game, I couldn’t remember ever winning there as a player.

I scored a good goal there a few years ago but we ended up getting battered, so it didn’t mean a lot.

Derby games are always tough, and they did well to battle hard and hang in there.

But I think anybody could see we were by far the better team and we should have got the win.

I had a great chance right at the end...I’ve seen the ball coming across, and I’m thinking: ‘This is it, this is the chance!’

But then it bobbled a bit, it skidded a bit, and I’m trying to get myself a yard to get the shot off, but the lad’s done well to get a foot in to be fair.

I actually thought I was closer to the goal than I was, I thought at the time it was a big miss.

But after watching it back, I don’t think it was as big a chance as I thought it was.

I’d usually back myself to do better there, but things like that come with more minutes on the pitch.

We’re all gutted we never got the three points, as was the gaffer.

But it was a good week on the whole, and that’s what we need to take away.

After four defeats in a row, to bounce back with five points is a positive response.

And I really think we could and should have come away with nine points.

If we hadn’t lost those four games, I think we probably would have won all three, because the confidence levels would have been higher.

We’ve been creating enough chances, it’s just about taking as few more to get the goals we feel we deserve.

There’s no reason to fear any team in this division - especially now we’re starting to get bodies back after injury.

I’d fancy us against anyone in this division, especially at home.

On a personal note, it was nice to get on at Bolton, after scoring off the bench against Blackburn last week.

I’m knocking on that door now and hopefully I’ll get my chance in the starting line-up before too long.

Everyone’s always winding me up when I do something good, asking if I’m ready to start a game!

All I can do is keep going, keep my head down and fingers crossed get back in there.

I’m delighted to be back here, everyone knows that and can see how happy I am.

All the hard work was worth it for that goal against Blackburn the other night.

The lads and staff were so chuffed for me - more than I thought they would be to be honest – because they know how hard it’s been for me, with big expectations.

I’ve not moaned, I’ve kept my head down, and I think that’s been appreciated.

I know some people have me down as an impact sub and that’s all - but nothing could be further from the truth!

I don’t know where that’s come from – it’s not the case at all!

Over the years I’ve begun to be regarded as an impact sub, because I have been able to make an impression off the bench.

People then start to think you can’t do it consistently, but that’s absolutely not the case.

Sometimes when you’re very good at attacking, people just look for negatives for some reason.

Everyone here knows what I can do, they’ve seen me do it over a long period of time, so it’s something I’m looking to put right.

I’m fit and ready to play a full game, there’s no problem about that.

We do extra running in training, the lads who haven’t played a full game, and the gaffer here works us harder than any other manager I’ve worked under.

Everyone here is as fit as a fiddle – and if you’re not, you won’t get into a Paul Cook team!