Wigan Athletic manager in ecstasy after dream return at Huddersfield

Latics picked up exactly where they'd left off 15 weeks ago, extending their unbeaten run to seven matches and making it five clean sheets on the spin.

Goals from Jamal Lowe and Anthony Pilkington in either half saw Latics climb to eighth-bottom of the Championship - three points clear of the drop zone.

And Cook was left to reflect on a perfect afternoon for his side.

"For every team, at this stage of the season, the results are far more important than the performance - and we know that," he said.

"And for us, it was really important to come away with something.

"To be truthful, I thought a point would have been a good result because they're a good side with some good players.

"To get a 2-0 win, with the way we played, we're absolutely delighted with that."

Having been regarded as probables for relegation as recent as eight games, Latics have shown what they're made of - and some - with the way they have rocketed up the ladder.

With pretty much the same players and the same system, Cook says it's just a case of waiting for the cream to rise to the top.

"It's just repetition isn't it, it always has been," he added.

"Nowadays, and you see it all the time on Sky, players play half a game badly and they just get slaughtered.

"It's just the way football is. Time is no-one's friend in football any more, and that's very sad.

"It's tough for players and managers to live in that world, but you just have to keep going.

"If we can keep going and keep believing, we'll put ourselves into a position we'll be happy with."