Gary Caldwell has stated that his plan to mark Barry Bannan out of the game was a key reason as to why Wigan Athletic were able to stop Sheffield Wednesday in their tracks.
The Latics were able to prevent the League One leaders from scoring for just the second time in the third tier this season, but were far from at their best going forward, meaning they claimed just one point at Hillsborough.
Caldwell Optimistic Following Owls Result
While it was a scoreline which lifted Wigan off the foot of the League One table, their four points at this formative stage of the season is not enough to keep them out of the relegation zone, albeit with just one point separating them from 20th-placed MK Dons.
However, despite missing out on three points, Gary Caldwell was positive about the display his side put on in South Yorkshire.
Speaking to Wigan Today following the result, the 44-year-old revealed his strategy against Owls vice-captain Barry Bannan, which successfully nullified Wednesday’s threat.
“My teams have been hammered here in the past. They are a team that scores goals left, right and centre, their xG (expected goals) is always incredible.
“But we kept them out by showing a clear identity, we passed the ball and we controlled the game. I man-marked my old mate Barry Bannan again – something I’ve done before with Exeter – and he’s fuming in there.
“I’ll have to go and apologise to him now, but you have to do what you have to do to win a game of football, and he is the talisman in this team.”
“I thought we were outstanding, I thought we should have won the game…anyone inside the stadium will know we should have won the game.
“We didn’t, but from where we were last week…it’s an incredible reaction, a huge step forward, and a first clean sheet of the season. If we can maintain that performance level, then we will win a lot of football matches this season.
“I said last week, after Stockport, that as low as we were, you have to take those days, stay humble and do something about it. As a whole group, we have done something about it, and we’ve responded in the perfect way, like a proper team.”
Wigan will have to wait until next weekend to try and build upon this result, welcoming a managerless Wycombe Wanderers to Lancashire before a midweek clash in the EFL Trophy against rivals Blackpool.
Efforts Must Continue For Success
In what is arguably going to be the toughest test any League One side faces this season in the form of a trip to Hillsborough, Wigan Athletic have passed with flying colours, and while it was not the perfect day in terms of claiming a win, they can hold their heads high with their effort.
Being able to limit Sheffield Wednesday to just three shots on target, all from either wide or deep areas, was a testament to how well Gary Caldwell’s side handled the threat they were facing.
However, as far as many will be concerned, this needs not to be a one-off occurrence, and maintaining this defensive solidity, especially at home, will be a crucial factor in deciding whether the Latics will be pulled into another relegation battle.
The biggest concern will be the attacking performances, though, as has been seen so far, only Peterborough United have scored fewer goals than Wigan this season.
With Scott Hogan tipped to join, according to an Alan Nixon report, Caldwell will have to hope his free agent signing can be the catalyst to spur players like Dara Costelloe and Sonny Perkins on to have regular contributions in future games.
