First-ever visit to Broadfield Stadium
Paul Dickov is confident Latics will put their midweek blip behind them as they prepare for tomorrow’s npower League One match at Crawley Town.
Latics’ manager is looking for a positive reaction following the 3-1 defeat at Carlisle United as his team enters uncharted territory as they have never previously met the West Sussex club.
Dickov, whose side had picked up 10 points from a possible 12 before the trip to Brunton Park, said: "It was disappointing at Carlisle, where it was an all-round poor performance, but we go again. We know we are capable of winning games and playing good football.
"Our performance level dropped at Carlisle and we knew what went wrong and we will try to put that right. We are better than that and the players know that.
"We are not going to win every game but it is important when you don’t play well that you try to grind out a result."
Latics’manager described Tuesday as a collective off night.
He continued: "We had too many players not performing at the level which they had been doing.
"Sometimes you can afford to have two or three, but not eight or nine as was the case at Carlisle. I just hope we got it out of our system all at once."
Dickov added that high-riding Crawley are the perfect opponents to play on the back of a defeat.
He said: "Crawley are flying and had a fantastic win in midweek (2-0 against MK Dons).
"We have shown if we perform to our capabilities, like we did against top teams Preston and Sheffield United, we can beat them or give them a good game.
"Tomorrow will be a tough game, but it is a great game as it gives us the chance to go to a team which is in form and which is sitting third in the league and get a positive result."
Dickov is full of admiration for Crawley who have achieved back-to-back promotions which have taken them from Blue Square Bet Premier to League One. And they are more than holding their own in the third tier of English football.
He continued: "Richie Barker took over as manager in the summer and inherited a good squad of players.
"It is alright inheriting them, but you have to get them working hard for you and playing good football. They have done that and beat a very good MK Dons in midweek.
"Richie is a good football man and has taken on Crawley to a different level."
Crawley, who have won six of their last seven matches, have plenty of attacking options – Gary Alexander, Jonathan Forte, Nicky Ajose, John Akinde and Billy Clarke.
But it is midfield man Nicky Adams, who followed Barker from Bury, who is their top scorer with six goals.