Wigan Athletic guest column: Christian Walton

They’re a top side, recently dropped out of the Premier League, and they’ll have big ambitions of being promoted at the end of the season.

It was nice to come away with a positive result after losing at Norwich last weekend.

And any point is vital in this division, because the league is full of good teams with good players who can hurt you.

I thought it was the best we’ve played in the last four or five weeks.

We’ve had some good results during that time, but I don’t think the performances have been as good as we’re capable of.

It was more like the stuff we were playing at the stat of the season, and hopefully we can carry that into Preston at the weekend.

People often ask me whether I prefer having a lot to do – like against Swansea – or games where it’s really quiet.

Looking back to last season, most weeks I didn’t have all that much to do, because of the way the lads were playing in front of me.

Moving up a level, it is nice to be doing more for the team, doing my bit for the team and helping to keep us in games.

It’s the old cliche, that’s what I’m there for, and thankfully we were able to keep another clean sheet.

I have to give a big pat on the back to Cedric (Kipre) and Chey (Dunkley) in front of me for that.

They’ve been superb all season really – starting with the first game of the season when Cedric had only been here a matter of hours.

Neither of them had played at this level before but they’ve both adapted very quickly, and they give us brilliant protection.

Obviously we’ve got Dan Burn coming back from injury very soon, and it’ll be interesting to see what the gaffer does when he has that decision to make.

The lads are obviously looking forward to the game at Preston this weekend.

It’s a big derby, we’re going to have a big travelling contingent making the trip, and hopefully we can give them something to cheer.

Preston obviously need to start picking up points to move up to the right end of the table, and that should make for a good game.

They’ve been a Championship team for a while now, they’re consolidated in this division, and they know the level well.

We need to be bang at it to give them a game, and I think we will be after getting back to what we can do in midweek.

We obviously saw their result at Aston Villa on Tuesday night – and to score three goals down there is not easy.

We know the threat they’ll pose and we’ll set up accordingly to hold them – and hopefully hurt them at the other end.

There’s another international break coming up after this weekend, and it’ll mean chance to work on a few things at the training ground.

I used to be involved with the England Under-21s during these fortnights...but unfortunately I’m too old now!

Being born in 1995 I squeezed into the last round, but I don’t qualify any more which is a bit of a shame.

At least it gives me a couple of weeks off, and chance to focus on the games ahead when we get back.

Christian Walton was speaking to Paul Kendrick