Wigan Athletic: The 12th Man - 'We even had the luxury of not having to moan too much'

Alan Rogers:

Saturday's deserved victory over high-flying Boreham Wood was a reminder of how well we can play when it all clicks into place.

Gary Caldwell selected a strong team - an indication of just how seriously they were treating the occasion.

On paper, a decent League One team should nearly always beat even a decent team from two divisions lower.

But are we a decent team? Because everyone told us that runaway National League leaders Boreham Wood were definitely above average at their level.

They hadn't lost since Easter. Even the bookies gave Wigan no chance, making the home team odds-on favourites and Latics were 3/1!

Hopefully Gary just dangled the bookies odds under his players noses and a mixture of pride and anger did enough to spur them on.

The match itself was a bit confusing. If you just looked at the bare statistics, the home team had the vast majority of possession.

But if you dive down into the detail, they didn't actually take advantage of the superior stats.

They mostly seemed to hold the ball up in their own half - passing it side to side across the pitch - perhaps in an attempt to lure Latics out of their defensive shape.

But it was a superb, disciplined display from Wigan - and finally, we didn't have to rely on a forward to score the goals!

Jon Mellish finished off a decent move, and then step forward magnificent Morgan Fox!

Wigan controlled the game, slowly silencing a boisterous home crowd and attacking time and again on the break and defending robustly.

We even had the luxury of not having to moan too much about the referee (apart from a shocking decision not to award a clear penalty to us!).

So, what was our reward for a job well done? Possibly the most lack lustre game in round two - Barnsley at home!

And so on to Tuesday at Crewe, and Latics made seven changes to the starting XI.

Gary would obviously want to continue this short unbeaten run, but Wigan had already qualified from this group so he would have one eye on Saturday's upcoming league game.

Crewe also won their FA Cup game at the weekend, and they were rewarded with even more changes of personnel - virtually every player from the winning FA Cup game was rested.

So, it was hard to predict how the game would pan out.

Wigan were dominant from the first whistle, and were rewarded in the 13th minute when Reece Greenhalgh rose above the Crewe defence to head for goal, but Sonny Perkins helped the ball onwards into the net and was ruled offside!

Latics continued to impress and were far the better team during the first half. Having said that, they were probably lucky to go in all square after 45 minutes.

Crewe hit the bar and had two other good chances. Latics had seven corners and Crewe none in the first period - probably a good indication of how the game was going.

Unfortunately, the second half started badly for the Latics, when a great cross and some woeful defending led to a Crewe goal.

This seemed to shock Wigan into action, and a frantic few minutes involved Latics hitting the post and finally culminated in a delightful headed goal from Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen.

Latics then started to turn the screw, and the Crewe penalty area began to resemble scenes from the Alamo.

Sadly, neither Davy Crockett or Daniel Boone were available to help Crewe and, after several near misses, Harrison Rimmer fired in a low shot to put Wigan ahead.

Latics continued to dominate and to the delight of both Wigan and Blackpool fans comfortably saw the game out.

So, a great few days in cup competitions and the unbeaten run continues.

Which leaves us with just two questions.

First of all - is Jersey Mike really related to Guernsey Mike?

But more importantly - why did I not have even a small wager on Wigan against Boreham Wood!

Matt Auffrey:

Following the victory over Crewe on Tuesday evening, I made a (quite unheralded) post on Twitter acknowledging our success in the month of November over the past several seasons.

To summarise, we’ve only lost once in our past 12 league matches in November, and have also lost only once across our last nine cup matches in November - with both positive runs dating back to the 2023 season.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that we’ve had success during a month where we’ve faced a higher proportion of lower-league opponents and matches with lower stakes like the EFL Trophy.

Regarding our improved league record compared to other months, maybe we’ve consistently benefited from a more forgiving fixture list in November.

Ultimately, if Shaun Maloney and Ryan Lowe could both string together positive results during this specific time of the year, Gary Caldwell shouldn’t receive any special plaudits for doing the same.

However, you could argue that we’ve needed a positive start to November right now more than in any of those prior years.

Over the first three months of the season we’ve struggled to score goals, win games, and even worse, get on the same page with our ownership about the future of our club.

While a few early-round cup victories and two decent league results (for a club still in the relegation places) aren’t going to drastically change our season’s trajectory overnight, they have still provided a much-needed spark for the club over the past several weeks.

We can now look forward to a Jersey Mike's Trophy knockout round home tie, a winnable second round FA Cup home tie, and a chance to further work our way up the league table as we face two out-of-form sides over the next two Saturdays.

Our opponents for two of those four matches will be Barnsley, with our first fixture taking place this Saturday at the Brick.

The Tykes have struggled significantly since knocking us out of the Carabao Cup in early August.

But they will look to build on the momentum from last weekend’s 7-2 FA Cup triumph over Aldershot Town as they aim to secure their first league win since early September.

After facing non-league opposition last Saturday and a far-from-full-strength Crewe side on Tuesday, we are likely to face a considerable step up in competition this weekend.

However, many key players were not in the squad for our midweek fixture, so they should be well-rested and full of confidence after taking part in our first away victory of the season at Boreham Wood.

There is no guarantee that the second half of November’s fixtures will play out as favourably as the first half’s, but we should take a spirited away contingent to Blackpool next weekend before hosting Plymouth at home to close out the month.

We may not have completely turned a corner yet, but we have found some light after a dark period. Let us hope that Saturday’s performance marks the next step in the right direction.

Shaun Houghton:

Momentum's building, but the job Is far from done.

There is a real sense of optimism around the Brick and online at the moment.

A run of three wins and one draw has given everyone connected with Wigan Athletic a lift, and after a difficult period it feels like the team is finally beginning to build some momentum.

Confidence is growing, performances are improving, and most importantly, we're picking up points.

The challenge now is to make sure this is not just a good spell, but the foundation for a strong season.

Good sides turn positive runs into great ones, and Wigan have an opportunity to do exactly that over the coming weeks.

The draw for a home tie in the Jersey Mike's Trophy could prove to be a significant boost.

Home matches always offer a better platform to progress, sparing the squad the demands of travel and giving supporters another chance to get behind the lads.

Success breeds success, and another positive result in front of our own fans would only add to the feel-good factor that is beginning to develop.

All eyes now turn to Barnsley, and for me it's a game we simply have to win.

They are struggling just like we have at times, and these are exactly the sorts of teams we need to be beating if we want to keep moving in the right direction.

Too often as supporters we build certain clubs up because of their name or history, but the reality is they're in and around the same position as us for a reason.

We also need to stop giving teams so much respect.

This league is ruthless.

When sides get the chance, they're more than happy to put four, five or even six goals past us without a second thought, so why shouldn't we have the same mentality?

I'm not talking about arrogance, but a genuine belief that when we're on top we should be looking to put teams to the sword.

In fact, I'd love to see us really batter someone.

We've had some excellent results during this run of three wins and a draw, but a dominant, convincing victory could do wonders for the squad's confidence.

A performance where everything clicks, chances are taken, and we come away with a big scoreline would give the players even more belief in what they're capable of.

Sometimes a result like that can completely change the mood around a football club and help players realise just how good they can be.

There are still a couple of concerns, though.

Firstly, I don't know what's happened to Fraser Murray.

He looks a completely different player to the one we saw last season, and unfortunately not in a good way.

Whether it's confidence, form, fitness or simply a difficult spell, something just doesn't look right at the moment.

We all know the quality he's shown before, but right now he seems a shadow of the player who was having such a positive impact on the side.

Another priority for the club must be sorting out K'Marni Miller's long-term future.

We've seen before what can happen when talented young players aren't tied down early enough, and Wigan simply can't afford a repeat.

Miller needs to be offered a longer contract before other clubs start circling.

The last thing supporters want is another Harrison Bettoni situation, where an upcoming asset leaves before we've truly been able to maximise their value and contribution to the team.

There is also one area that I think deserves careful management.

We need to keep a close eye on Christian Saydee's minutes.

He has become such an important focal point for the side that managing his workload must be a priority.

In my opinion, we're only one injury away from him from taking a significant step backwards.

His energy, movement and all-round influence are vital to the way we play, and there isn't an obvious like-for-like replacement waiting in the wings.

That's not to say we should wrap him in cotton wool but, with a busy schedule ahead and cup commitments adding more fixtures to the calendar, keeping him fit could be one of the biggest factors in determining where this season ends up.

The recent upturn in form has been built on consistency, and ensuring key players remain available is essential if we want that to continue.

For now, though, the picture is a positive one.

Three wins and a draw have given supporters plenty of reasons to believe.

The challenge is maintaining those standards, taking care of key players, and making sure the next few weeks turn promise into genuine progress.

If we can beat the teams around us, continue building momentum, and add a little more ruthlessness in front of goal, there is every reason to think the season can keep moving in the right direction.

Up the Tics. 🔵⚪️

Alfie Hurd:

Well two wins in a row something I’ve not thought of in ages.

On Saturday against Borehamwood, a 3-0 win against a top side listening to it on the radio sounded like a good game, with Jon Melish turning into Frank Lampard for his goal and Morgan Fox deciding to bag a brace with an amazing free-kick (the best goal I’ve seen in ages) and then a bullet header.

Watching the highlights, it shows we can play good football and win games.

Moving onto Tuesday night, and was what another good performance with us all over them.

Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen and Harrison Rimmer scored to get us top of the group in the Butty Cup (Wembley here we come!), and a confidence booster.

Hopefully we progress in the FA Cup against our beloved Barnsley for what I hope is a good pay day in round three.

Regarding the rumours of Gary Caldwell potentially leaving us for Aberdeen - according to Talksport...if he leaves, I believe we will go down, as without him no man will willingly join Mr Mike’s Scrooge Circus.

The only way Caldwell stays is if he gets backed in January. We shall see.

Martin Lally:

Going into last weekend and the fixtures ahead, despite some encouraging performances, I was struggling to see a win coming.

Some might call me negative, but I had my reasons.

Boreham Wood, on paper, looked like a serious challenge and a potential banana skin.

Unbeaten in 15 games, sitting comfortably at the top of the National League, and double-digit points clear of their nearest challengers.

In the end, we produced one of the most professional performances I’ve seen from Latics in a long time.

I actually made the trip down south and dragged along my younger brother, who has recently relocated to that part of the country.

If we keep winning games 3-0, he’ll be coming every week!

Despite Boreham Wood playing some really interesting, modern patterns of football, it was the wiser heads who ultimately won the day.

I’ve been very critical of Jon Mellish, and it’s time for me to take my medicine.

Following some encouraging cameos in midfield and a strong performance on Saturday, perhaps Gary Caldwell has finally found a role that suits him.

He was perfect for Saturday’s game, and provided exactly the physicality and presence we needed.

I’ve also never been Morgan Fox’s biggest fan.

I’ve always considered him a solid three-out-of-four performer, but on Saturday he excelled, producing two goals that ultimately secured the victory.

Credit where it’s due.

I also want to talk about Joe Whitworth this week. The man is fantastic!

When Sam Tickle signed for Bristol City, it was a massive concern for me. I loved Sam, and I genuinely struggled to see how we would replace him.

Even when Joe arrived, I was being my usual grumpy self, looking for every possible fault. But now? I wouldn’t want anyone else between the sticks!

Tuesday night brought the return of the Jersey Mike’s Trophy, and yet more success, with a comfortable 2-1 victory over Crewe securing our progression.

Considering we had already qualified, Gary shuffled the pack, and it was great to see some valuable minutes and encouraging performances from the likes of Akeel Higgins, Harrison Rimmer, Cole Simms - back from Marine FC - and even Sonny Perkins, who added further minutes to his tally.

We still had some of the familiar faces putting in the hard yards, but ultimately the victory secured top spot and guaranteed us a home draw in December.

Another little positive to add to the collection.

Monday also brought the FA Cup second-round draw, and it’s difficult not to get excited at the prospect of a home tie or a decent away day against a bigger club.

Instead, we got Barnsley, for what feels like the 10th time this season!

I’m sure both teams will have their eyes on a place in the third round and the possibility of drawing a really big name.

But, having already become so familiar with one another, it does feel a little like Groundhog Day, especially when we’ll be meeting twice within the space of a month.

I expect both sides to put out strong teams, although the league encounter this weekend is undoubtedly the more important of the two.

It’s disappointing we’ll be without Reggie Walsh, but Barnsley also have an international call-up and a suspension to contend with, so let’s hope that works in our favour.

The next few weeks are critical. Barnsley, Peterborough, Burton and Doncaster are all on the horizon.

These are fixtures where even three wins from four could see us start to climb the table and give ourselves some breathing space.

With some encouraging progress in both cup competitions, the performances improving and a little confidence finally returning, who knows?

There may just be a season in us yet! Up the Tics!

Tony Moon:

A couple of (very convincing) back to back cup wins, to follow our rise up the league table...and I’m with Bob (Marley) in not worrying about a thing, cos...well, you know the rest.

Boreham Wood in particular was very pleasing, mainly cos everyone (not only the bookies) was telling us how we weren’t going to win.

But what do they know?

However, the Crewe result was just as pleasing (if less unlikely given the comparatively strong starting XI we had out) given a lad from our village made his senior debut, and got an assist (of sorts!!!).

G’wan Cole Simms, well done lad (but your brother’s a better cricketer!).

So, Barnsley at home on Saturday (before the same match-up in the next round of the FA Cup) and with the play-offs in reach (if you have long arms!), the manager can surely justify teasing a little more cash out of those deep pockets of the owner come January if we’re to continue to be competitive in three competitions!

Oh, and forget about harbouring any thoughts of Aberdeen too, Gary...

Iif it’s Northern Lights you want, then get up to near Wrightington (St James) Church, and you can see the lights on Blackpool Tower and the Big One from there...

Sean Livesey:

As weeks go I think we can consider that one a success.

We spoke last week about avoiding the potential banana skin of Boreham Wood in the FA Cup, and Latics didn’t just do that.

They systematically outplayed their opponents making the gap between the two divisions look every bit as big as it was on paper.

There was a lot of talk before kick-off of how Boreham Wood were the favourites, both among the support and the bookmakers, but Latics and indeed Gary Caldwell used that to their advantage.

Caldwell spoke after the match at some of the disrespect shown towards his team ahead of the match, and how that blaise attitude to Latics’ chances had spurned the camp on.

As with the Bromley and Mansfield games previously, all the positive play came through Wigan, and the 2-0 scoreline at half-time could have been even healthier, even more so in the second half.

Latics were worthy winners, and it was a nice rebuke to those who thought that it would be a walk in a park for a Boreham Wood side who had taken 44 points from a possible 48 since the start of the National League season.

Senior heads Jon Mellish and Morgan Fox got on the scoresheet where Latics had been lacking in previous weeks.

It does feel like slowly but surely things are beginning to click.

A mixed side followed up the FA Cup victory with a trip to Gresty Road in the Jersey Mike's (it's no Auto Windscreen Shield) Trophy as already-qualified Latics aimed to get a home draw in the knockout stages (though ask most Wiganers, and an away trip to Salford or Accrington would have probably been high on the list).

A young Latics side peppered with a few older heads once again controlled the opening hour without converting their dominance to goals, before Crewe nudged themselves ahead.

This Latics side though are building an impressive resilience and goals from Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen and Harrison Rimmer ensured Latics took top spot in the group and earned their third victory in four matches.

After the start we've had to the season you'll take those in whatever competition and whatever form they come in.

Four games undefeated isn't anything to be sniffed at, whatever level you play at, and with Barnsley up at the Brick this Saturday, there's no better chance to continue building on the good work of the last few weeks.

Barnsley also came out the hat in the second round draw of the FA Cup. Meaning we'll have played our friends in South Yorkshire three times since August.

Let's hope we get more success in the next two than we did earlier in the year.