'You have to be more tactical and smarter', admits Wigan Athletic ace

Nathan Byrne has revealed he’s had to tweak his game while walking the disciplinary tightrope – to avoid missing crucial games in Wigan Athletic’s relegation run-in.
Nathan ByrneNathan Byrne
Nathan Byrne

The right-back has nine bookings to his name the season, one short of an automatic two-match suspension.

Saturday’s visit of rock-bottom Luton is the final game before the cut-off for 10 bookings, meaning Byrne – and skipper Sam Morsy, who also has nine yellows – have just 90 minutes to negotiate.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And the Latics right-back says he’s had to hold back in recent games to avoid stepping over the line.

“Obviously when you’re on five or six bookings, you’re still playing your normal game...if the ball’s there to be challenged for, you’ve got to do it,” he told the Wigan Post.

“But when you get to nine, and you have the very real possibility of missing games – especially in the situation we’re in – you have to be more tactical and smarter.

“Sammy’s been on nine bookings for a couple of months now, I’ve recently reached that number, and we’re a couple of players who like to go at it 100 per cent.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Bookings are going to happen in that situation, but you get to a point where you have to think about it more – and both of us are there now.”

Boss Paul Cook says he’s been in constant dialogue over the subject of yellow cards with Morsy, who reached nine yellow cards in the 0-0 draw at Blackburn on December 23.

And he is reluctant to give his skipper too much praise for keeping his nose clean in recent weeks.

“He should have behaved better before Christmas!” smiled the Latics manager.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“He’s like a naughty boy...he was very naughty at the start of the season, and now he’s behaving himself!”

When asked whether he’d spoken to the midfielder in a bid to avoid a suspension, Cook continued: “Of course.

“But I also had a word with him on the nine previous occasions...and he obviously didn’t listen!

“I think he’s listening now, because he knows he’d miss two games for one more yellow card.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“He’s showing far more discipline in his game, he’s been a proper captain, and he’s really leading by example.”

Byrne, too, has been impressed with the form of Morsy, who won the player of the month award for January and is expected to pick up the February gong as well.

“He’s been outstanding in recent weeks,” added Byrne.

“The manager’s tried telling him to take a step back, but sometimes he can’t help himself!”