Gary Caldwell's message to his Wigan Athletic players ahead of two huge home games
Gary Caldwell believes his Wigan Athletic team can turn their fortunes around in League One
Wigan Athletic boss Gary Caldwell insists his side cannot feel sorry for themselves as they look to find a way of turning their fortunes around in League One with a couple of important fixtures on the horizon.
The Latics are sat bottom of the League One table after picking up just two wins and a draw from their opening 12 games of the season.
After an impressive 1-0 victory over Reading earlier this month, Caldwell’s men looked to have turned a corner. However, Latics have since fallen to three successive away defeats.
A week last Tuesday and on Saturday, they were beaten 2-1 by Oxford United and Huddersfield Town respectively before Tuesday night’s 3-0 loss at Leicester City.
Caldwell knows that fans will look at the league table with some concern, but insists spirits will be lifted if they can get positive results in their next block of fixtures. This weekend, Bromley head to the Brick Community Stadium before Mansfield Town are the visitors on Tuesday evening.
“We have to win football games,” Caldwell said following Tuesday’s defeat at the King Power Stadium.
“We know that as a team, but I said it’s not from a lack of trying, it’s not from terrible performances, and there are areas we have to get better, but it’s not like we’re searching for what those are.
“It’s pretty clear what the team needs to be better at to win games, and it was only 10 days ago at home we were outstanding against Reading, so these games are coming thick and fast – Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday.
“I just said to the players there is no point sitting with your heads down feeling sorry for yourself - stand up, recover and get ready for Saturday, and that starts with what you do in your recovery, and how we prepare on Thursday and Friday to be ready to win at home.”
Caldwell admits he is looking forward to getting back on familiar territory on Saturday after a run of three tough away fixtures at Oxford, Huddersfield and Leicester.
“I don’t think a team in the league will get a tougher run of fixtures than we’ve just had,” he added. “That being said, I’m never one to say it’s ‘free hits’ away from home.
“These games are difficult games, we felt like we could win every one, I think we were in every one in moments, but like I said, we know exactly why we’re not winning, and only we can fix that, and we’ll work extremely hard in recovery and preparation to try and do that for Saturday.”
Despite being stuck at the bottom of the table, Caldwell remains confident that his players can turn their season around and move up the table.
He added: “(There is still) a lot of points to play for. We know we need to be better - we know we’re not giving the fans enough, we know everyone is trying, we know the areas we have to improve, and if we get a win or result, I do think the confidence will come.
“Like I said after Reading, to go into the three fixtures after was really difficult to try and build momentum, but with two home games and a run of fixtures coming up, we look forward to that, and we’ll try to start that run on Saturday.”