As the pressure mounts on Wigan Athletic to stave off the very real threat of League One relegation this season, an unexpected star has emerged from the youth ranks.
Llyton Chapman was given his first start in senior football on Saturday, starting as part of a Latics back three in the crucial 1-1 draw at Blackpool.
Having been gently introduced to the first team with consecutive substitute appearances, the 20-year-old then received a significant vote of confidence, starting in the weekend’s high-stakes Lancashire derby.
His new head coach has wasted little time in acknowledging the role he is likely to play during the remainder of the EFL season. Gary Caldwell has been hit with a defensive headache following Morgan Fox’s untimely injury, joining James Carragher and Jack Hunt on the sidelines. However, despite the barriers, the newly appointed boss appears unflustered due to the various options available to him in that position.
Diamond In The Rough Answers The Wigan Athletic Call
As numerous ambitious clubs find themselves entrenched in the depths of League One, the need for influential figures to rise to the occasion has never been greater, placing immense pressure on Gary Caldwell to inspire his key players to lead by example.
However, amidst the pressure and experience, the unbridled energy of youth and the absence of inhibiting nerves can prove to be an equally decisive factor. This was certainly apparent in the 66 minutes that Chapman managed on his senior debut at Bloomfield Road.
Despite an early setback with Ollie Casey’s goal after four minutes, the versatile defender was a composed presence alongside his seasoned teammates, Will Aimson and Jason Kerr, producing a much more solid performance.
In comments published in Wigan Today, the Scottish head coach enthused about Chapman’s quality and potential.
“I knew very little about him… I knew nothing at all. But after only a few days of training with him, you could see the quality.”
“It’s his mentality more than anything, big game, big stadium… and he played with real maturity and a real confidence.”
With a renewed focus on defensive solidity, the team has strung together a series of clean sheets, providing the momentum needed to climb out of the relegation zone.
Early Turnaround Under Caldwell
Although it’s still early in Gary Caldwell’s second chapter at the Brick Community Stadium, the team’s chances of staying up have seen a massive improvement since the 43-year-old took over again.
When the Latics were thrashed 6-1 at Peterborough United just a few short weeks ago, many of their supporters were resigned to relegation. The afternoon has proved to be a turning point, though, with the defeat spelling the end for Ryan Lowe, and the humbling experience appearing to unite the players and triggering a renewed focus.
Back-to-back 1-0 victories at home against Luton Town and Huddersfield Town under Caldwell have injected a much-needed surge of optimism into Wigan’s battle to stay up. A theme of these wins was their ability to come through difficult periods in the game before choosing their moment to increase their offensive effort.
While the “new manager bounce” has been crucial, the Latics faithful are hoping it translates into something more substantial after such an electrifying start.
Encouraging Signs, But More To Do
A sense of optimism is gradually returning to this corner of Greater Manchester, but the stark reality is that they remain only two points above the relegation zone. Momentum can be a game-changer, and in a relegation battle, holding onto it for as long as possible is key.
Wigan has a golden opportunity to create some breathing room with consecutive home games against Plymouth Argyle and Bradford City in the coming week. These matches could very well determine the course of their season.
Wigan must continue to display the same rigorous and determined defensive effort, especially at home, that has become their trademark in recent weeks if they want to stay up.
The team has struggled to provide a sustained goal threat all season, managing just 1.06 goals per game. Only the current bottom three have a worse record in that particular facet.
While it may be too late in the season for radical solutions for Wigan’s goal-scoring woes, Caldwell’s decade of coaching experience suggests that shifting focus to other areas could still salvage a season of struggle.
Christian Saydee and Joe Taylor will likely need to maximize the quality of their chances, as opposed to the quantity, and be clinical in their finishing, to reward their defensive teammates for their newfound organisation.
Returning to where his managerial journey began, Caldwell has the window of chance to further build on his already impressive legacy at Wigan Athletic if he can maintain their current positive momentum.
