Manager confident of winning return
Paul Dickov is taking many positives into tomorrow's npower League One match against Crewe Alexandra at Boundary Park.Latics' manager took great comfort and encouragement from his side's Boxing Day encouraging display against high-flying Doncaster Rovers, even they lost to an injury-time goal from David Syers.
Dickov described it as a "nearly" day as they almost dented Doncaster's promotion charge.
He said: "We were in Doncaster's half for 75-per-cent of the game and had 13 goal attempts to their four.
"We were playing a team which is up at the top of the division and over the course of the game we were the better team and yet got nothing.
"The least we ought to have got was a point. We didn't and we must go again against Crewe and take a lot of positives from the game against Doncaster."
Dickov describes Latics' 2-0 victory at Crewe in early October as one of their best performances of the season.
Newly-promoted Crewe are in a comfortable mid-table position and have more than consolidated their position in League One.
Dickov is full of praise for the job Steve Davis has done since becoming the Railwaymen's manager in November 2011.
He said: "I give credit to Steve as Crewe are doing ever so well and they will be a threat.
"We all know how they like to pass the ball, but Steve has also added physicality to the team which is possibly what they lacked last year.
"We know it will be a tough game but, if we are at it like we were against Doncaster, we can beat them."
After slipping to 17th place following a run of three straight defeats, Dickov says it is important they defeat Crewe and Scunthorpe to arrest the slide.
He said: "They are two big games coming up.
"I am not underestimating the opposition, but they are two games we can win.
"It is important we pick up six points from the two games which will also set us up for the cup tie at Nottingham Forest."
Though Crewe lost 2-1 at Tranmere on Boxing Day, before that they were unbeaten in three games which included an excellent 3-1 win at Preston North End.
"I am not underestimating the opposition, but they are two games we can win.
"It is important we pick up six points from the two games which will also set us up for the cup tie at Nottingham Forest."
Though Crewe lost 2-1 at Tranmere on Boxing Day, before that they were unbeaten in three games which included an excellent 3-1 win at Preston North End.
Latics have a terrific record against Crewe - their last seven meetings since September 2007 have produced six wins and one draw.