Left back lands midfield role
Latics' left back Jonathan Grounds celebrated an unexpected move into midfield by scoring the match-winning goal in yesterday's 1-0 home victory against Shrewsbury Town.While the 24-year-old enjoyed his foray forward and his moment of glory scoring his first goal for Latics, Grounds says he doesn't want a permanent switch from defence.
It was Cristiano Montano's suspension which opened the door for Grounds to move wide left of midfield.
And after less than 13 minutes Grounds, who had been suspended for the midweek win at Hartlepool, ghosted into the penalty area at the far post to covert a Matt Derbyshire cross.
Grounds, who now has six career goals, said: "The manager said on the back of the lads playing really well at Hartlepool that he wanted to keep the same back four which was fair enough.
"It was something different for myself to play in midfield, and I enjoyed it out there."
Grounds, who said the only time he had previously played in midfield was in the Academy at Middlesbrough, added that they worked in training before the Shrewsbury game on the switch.
And he was delighted to score the winning goal.
He said: "I know the manager always encourages Cristian to get into the box at the back post and it ran through my mind for the goal.
"I tried to gamble and the ball luckily broke to me in the box and I scored with my right foot. Luckily it was only six yards out. Had it been any further, I would probably have missed.
"I wouldn't say this is my favourite position, but the goal, the three points and doing a job for the team is the most important thing."
Grounds is looking for Latics to continue their improved form in midweek at Doncaster Rovers.
He said: "In this division if you put together back-to-back wins together, you can really go places.
"If we can pick up something on Tuesday at Doncaster, which is our game in hand, we can kick on and try and get on a run like we were not long ago."
Grounds added that neither the Hartlepool or Shrewsbury fixtures were the "prettiest of games."
He continued: "I know we have played a lot better and lost.
"And after the game, a lot of the lads said they would rather win ugly than playing well and lose."