Pawel Abbott's eighth goal of the season, the matchwinner at Tranmere on Saturday, was manufactured on the training ground.

The striker revealed that the team had been working on set pieces in training during the week, and it was great to execute the move in a match.

Abbott said: "You saw at Tranmere how good Dale Stephens' delivery is from set pieces.

"He put over a good ball from a corner for my goal and it is great to have a dead-ball specialist like him in the team."

Abbott did not believe Latics played as well at Tranmere as in other recent games which they have drawn or lost.

He said: "We had that bit of luck at Tranmere which we have not had in recent games. It may be a cliche but, when you are down, things don't go for you.

"Tranmere pushed on in the last 10/15 minutes and Dean (Brill) made two great saves. Their lad will be upset that he didn't score so may be our luck has changed.

"Dean has had his critics, but he has shut them up and shown what a good keeper he is. I have every confidence he will push on from here."

Abbott believes he remains "rusty" after his lengthy absence following a hernia operation, saying there is still better to come. He added that the recent spate of postponements has not helped as it has prevented him regaining match sharpness as quickly as he had hoped.