Wigan Athletic '˜punching above our weight' - Richardson

It was almost a fifth home win out of six matches, with only a breathtaking save from Swansea goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt denying substitute Will Grigg a late winner.

But Richardson admits Wigan’s return to the second tier - a division they’ve been relegated from in each of their last two visits - could not be going much better.

“We won’t really take stock until the final game,” the Latics assistant manager said.

“The lads are conscious of the challenge in this division, the games come thick and fast.

“We won’t get too high when we win or too low when we lose.

“But if you’d told me that after 11 games we’d be joint fifth, and looking ahead to a local derby at Preston, we’d have snapped your hand off.”

Richardson also backed Grigg to bang in the next chance that comes his way, having come within a toenail of beating Nordfeldt and finding the bottom corner.

“If you’re talking about having a chance on a football pitch, you wouldn’t want it to fall to anyone else but Will Grigg,” Richardson insisted.

“If there was one tomorrow, I’d want it to go him again.

“He’s scored that many goals for us since we’ve been here, he won’t be losing any sleep whatsoever over that.

“He’ll step up for the next chance that comes his way and I’d back him to put it away.

“Yes, he’ll be disappointed, but we’re okay with it.

“Both goalkeepers had to be at their best to keep it scoreless, and I think both sides will be content with a point.

“They’re a newly-relegated Premier League team with some good players and a good management staff.

“On the flip side, we’re newly-promoted from League One, and we’re still on a big learning curve in this division.

“Our back four, back five, is probably as young as you’ll get at this level, but they’re doing a good job.

“We had to defend well at times, but so did they, and I think both sides cancelled each other out.”