Wigan Athletic skipper on not caring about other teams, pitch problems and the need to be 'a bit better'

Latics are two points ahead of the drop zone with nine matches remaining, ahead of Saturday’s trip to Huddersfield – who are only a single point better off.

A remarkable run since the turn of the year – including big wins at Leeds and West Brom – has seen Latics catapult themselves out of the drop zone.

The challenge now is to stay there – and Morsy is confident they can do just that.

“A couple of months ago, we would have died to have been in this position,” he told the Wigan Post.

“We’ve got nine games left and it’s completely in our hands.

“We’re not waiting for other teams to lose, we’re going out to win games and not worrying about anyone else.”

It’s been another rollercoaster campaign for Latics, and Morsy – the second longest serving player behind Michael Jacobs, having arrived in January 2016 – has seen it all before.

“We know we won nowhere near enough games in the first half of the season,” he acknowledged.

“Since the turn of the year, the record’s been much better, and we want to win games.

“It always seems to be the same here, we improve in the second half of the season...and I have no idea why!

“But you look round the dressing room and you see players who are enjoying their football, good to be around, and that gives you a chance.

“It’s probably the best team spirit since I’ve been here.

“You can see the lads are digging in for each other, reaching for that extra effort, and momentum’s powerful at this time of year.”

Despite last weekend’s 0-0 draw at home to Luton acting as a speedbump, Morsy didn’t feel Latics were far off.

“You can see what Luton tried to do at the weekend, every set-piece they slowed it right down,” he added.

“I suppose that’s respect for us, but their whole game-plan was slowing us down and trying to nick a point.

“The conditions didn’t help, the pitch didn’t help...we’ve got to need to pitch to be a little bit better if I’m honest.

“The passing style we try and play...I don’t know why the pitch was like that. But we also have to be a bit better, as individuals and as a team.

“A few months ago we’d maybe have lost that, but we were never in any trouble.”