Manager ready for footballing test
Paul Dickov is confident that Latics' npower League One match at Crewe Alexandra tonight will be one for the purists.The newly-promoted Railwaymen are lower mid-table with 10 points from nine league matches after a positive start to their campaign.
And that is despite losing their three best players in the summer to Premier League teams - Nick Powell to Manchester United, Ashley Westwood to Aston Villa while Shaun Miller left for Sheffield United.
Latics' manager is an admirer of the Railwaymen saying: "Crewe have a lot of young players who are all comfortable on the ball.
"They are similar to us at the moment in creating lots of chances but unable to stick them away and then caught by a sucker punch which is what happened at Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday."
Crewe lost 1-0 to an eight-minute goal from Charlie MacDonald at MK Dons where they suffered their first defeat in six games, though four had ended in stalemate.
Dickov believes it will a tough test for his side because Crewe get the ball down, play a passing game and football the right way.
It could well be a tight game if the form book runs true as Latics and Crewe are two of the lowest scoring teams in League One. Latics have found the net five times in eight league games while Crewe have eight in nine.
Crewe's four home league games have produced a total of only six goals - three at either end.
Notts County won at the Alexandra Stadium on the opening days of the season.
Since then, however, they have beaten Coventry and drawn against Tranmere and Leyton Orient.
If Latics are looking for a lucky omen, they are unbeaten in their last six games against Crewe which have produced five wins and one draw.
Latics have won 3-0 and 4-1 on their last two visits to Crewe.