Wigan boss Gary Caldwell is looking for another three points but is warning against complacency as his side travel to bottom club Crewe Alexandra.
Latics followed up their disappointing draw with Sheffield United last week with an easy win against Chesterfield and have now scored nine goals in the last three games.
Crewe on the other hand are rooted to the foot of SkyBet League One having conceded nine goals in their last two matches and without a win in six, but Caldwell thinks their position is a false one.
“Crewe are a good team,” he said. “We’re looking forward to a challenging match. I’ve seen them a few times before and we’ve already played them twice.
“They’re a good footballing team and they have a philosophy at the club to play the right way.
“Whilst they’ve struggled to get the points they’ll be demanding from themselves, they’re still a team who give you lots of problems, and they’ve got certain players at the top end of the pitch who can hurt you.”
Wigan have already beaten the Railwaymen twice this season in league and cup, but after a couple of recent games in which they should have had the game sewn up but ended up not winning, Caldwell wants 100% professionalism.
“We’ve got to guard against complacency,” he said. “We know more than most, you only have to look at the Blackpool game at home as an example of that, and of course dropping the 3-0 lead against Sheffield United.
“There’s no way we’ll take this game lightly, we know we’re in for a tough 90 minutes and we have to be at our best if we want to win.”
The manager was quick to praise the general fitness of this squad that is in good shape coming out of a tough festive period.
“The hard work we’ve been putting in from the very first day of pre-season is starting to pay off for us,” he said.
“Footballers should be in prime condition at this time of year, and I think we’ve worked our players really well, which the physio and fitness staff here deserve a lot of credit for.
“The players are in great shape and they look like they’re ready and hungry for the rest of the season.”
One minor downside for this weekends game is the probable absence of Will Grigg. The Northern-Irishman missed the game with Chesterfield as is still not ready to play.
Chris McCann is hoping to be in contention after having an injection in for an injured toe.
Three points for Wigan could potentially see them move up to third with positive results elsewhere and with their current form as good as anybody’s in the league, are lurking in wait for the others to slip up.
Image courtesy of Wigan Athletic via YouTube, with thanks.
