Wigan manager Gary Caldwell will be looking for a quick-fire reaction from his players as they welcome in-form Chesterfield to the DW Stadium this weekend.
Latics’ threw away a 3-0 lead to only draw with Sheffield United on Tuesday night and the boss was less than happy after the final whistle.
Caldwell bemoaned his side’s ‘unacceptable complacency’ in a game should have been over before half time.
With time to reflect on the result however, the boss talked of the positives taken from the game and of his team who still sit in a healthy position in the league.
“Sheffield United was just one of those games where we lost our concentration and the opposition took advantage, “ he said.
“It happens in football, and we’ve done it plenty of times already this season to other teams, but unfortunately we were on the wrong end of it this time.
“We’ve assessed the performance and the positive thing is we look a threat going forwards; we’re scoring goals pretty freely at the minute.
“We have to keep that attacking mind set, but we also know we have to tighten up and be better right through the team when the other team have the ball.”
Chesterfield, unbeaten under new boss Danny Wilson will be looking for revenge after a 3-2 defeat to Latics’ at the Proact Stadium earlier in the season, a game they led 2-0.
Spireites arrive at the DW in fine fettle as the Wigan-born Wilson has led his side to two victories and a draw in his three games in charge.
After steering them to a 1-1 draw with high-flying Peterborough in his first game, he then oversaw a memorable 7-1 victory over Shrewsbury Town followed by a 3-2 win at Rochdale last weekend.
“I watched their game at Rochdale on Saturday with us not playing and you can see that they’re working hard for their new manager,” Caldwell said.
“They’ve got a quality threat going forward in Sylvan Ebanks-Blake who has played at a higher level.
“They’re going to come here with lots of confidence after their recent results, and they’ll want to prove a point by winning here.”
Latics’ have no fresh injury concerns to report, although the availability of David Perkins is being monitored after he limped off during the game on Tuesday night.
New signing Reece Wabara is also available after training with his new teammates for the first time on Thursday, with Caldwell saying he will be in Saturday’s match day squad.
“He’s got a lot of experience in this division, especially for someone who is still only young,” Caldwell said.
“He’s got a lot of potential in him, and he’s still got an opportunity to go back up the leagues where he’s played before.”
For Chesterfield, experienced defender Ian Evatt is injured whilst Drew Talbot is closing in on a return. Gboly Ariyibi was sent off in the Spireites’ win over Rochdale last time out and begins his suspension.
Wigan lie in fifth position in SkyBet League One but find themselves just six points away from leaders Burton.
Chesterfield, after their pick up in recent form, are in 17th position but with a congested mid-section of the table will be hoping that continued good results will see them shoot back up towards the play-off places.
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