Dickov's dilemma for Yeovil
Paul Dickov has admitted he has a selection dilemma for Latics' npower League One match tomorrow at Yeovil Town.Latics' manager must decide what to do in the wake of last Saturday's disappointing home league defeat by Swindon Town.
Dickov made scathing criticisms of his players in the aftermath of the 2-0 loss at Boundary Park.
He said: "There are two things I can do - stick with the boys who won four of the previous five games to last Saturday, tell them their pride has taken a dent with what I have told them behind the scenes and also in the press and go out and put it right because we know they are good players.
"The flip side is that I make wholesale changes."
Dickov, who is looking for a positive reaction which he received after similarly poor performances against Carlisle and Bournemouth, admitted nobody jumped out in Wednesday's 6-2 reserve-team defeat by Fleetwood.
And Latics' manager says he is not fazed by the fact his side has a poor record at Yeovil where they have not won in six visits - last season they lost 3-1.
He points to the success a fortnight ago at Colchester which also hadn't been a happy hunting ground.
Dickov said: "We hadn't won at Colchester for a very long time (10 years) and put on a very good performance.
"We need to do that again tomorrow and get a reaction which we usually do from the boys after a poor performance.
"We want to put last week's disappointment behind us but not forget how good we have been the previous weeks where there has been a real desire to win games."
Latics' manager has a further message for his players.
He said: "Players have to realise it is a short career and every time they go on to the football pitch it matters.
"You cannot save yourself because you are judged by what you do in games."
Dickov will have one enforced change as Matt Derbyshire has returned to Nottingham Forest following a loan spell.
The visit to Yeovil marks the start of the busy Christmas/New Year period as Latics play five times in a fortnight.
"As we have seen before over the Christmas period, the way a series of good results can set you up for the rest of the season. It is a great time for us as we can pick up a lot of points," Dickov continued.
Latics will be come up against a couple of familiar faces tomorrow as former players Reuben Reid and Keanu Marsh-Brown are both at Yeovil.
Reid has scored six goals, the last of which in last Saturday's 2-2 draw at Walsall.
The Glovers have plenty of firepower as James Hayter has eight goals and Paddy Madden seven.