Dickov seeks return to winning ways
Paul Dickov is looking for Latics to arrest their recent slide in npower League One with victory on their first-ever visit to Coventry City's Ricoh Arena.Latics' manager knows only too well that the league form over the last month has been disappointing as they prepare to play the Sky Blues.
Dickov said: "We need to start picking up points starting with two tough away games at Coventry and Notts County.
"Recently our away form has been quite good and we know we are capable of picking up points."
Latics' manager does not believe there is much wrong as underlined by last Saturday's home performance against Brentford, even though they lost 2-0 to the high-flying Bees.
Dickov said: "There has been a lot of games this season when there has been nothing in it, but we have ended up picking up nothing.
"Against Brentford last Saturday, the main difference between the two teams was Clayton Donaldson. He had two chances in the game and took them.
"We had half chances but, over the course of the game, there was not a lot in it.
"What we have to do defend better when other teams get chances and also be more clinical in front of goal.
"We have to take confidence knowing there is not a lot in most games as there is in many matches in this division.
"It's just the odd goal which just seems to swing it the wrong way. And we have to make sure it stops happening."
Latics' manager saw Coventry lost at Carlisle on Sunday and was at the Ricoh Arena on Wednesday night to see Coventry beat top-of-the-table Tranmere Rovers 1-0.
It was a win which lifted Coventry to 10th place in the table and three points away from the play-off places as their revival under new manager Mark Robins continues.
They occupied a bottom four relegation place when Robins became manager in mid-September and since then they have steadily climbed into the top half of the table.
The win against Tranmere also halted a minor blip since New Year's Day which had seen back-to-back league defeats inflicted by Shrewsbury and Carlisle and a loss in the FA Cup to Tottenham.
After seeing former Latics' loanee Leon Clarke scored the matchwinner against Tranmere, Dickov said: "Coventry had a good result against Tranmere and there was little between the two sides.
"Coventry did well in the first half and Tranmere came back strongly in the second.
"It was a game in which Tranmere could have won just as Coventry might have won at Carlisle where they lost 1-0.
"We have to go there and to be positive. In fairness to the boys, especially away from home, we have looked a threat attacking wise.
"Coventry and Notts County are two tough games, but ones we can get something from."
Dickov says the personnel at Coventry hasn't changed much since Robins became manager, but he advocates playing good football and has benefited from having a largely settled side.
He pointed out they had a lot of injuries early in the season but the likes of Steve Jennings and John Fleck are back in action.
And though Coventry have lost loan striker David McGoldrick - he scored 17 goals in 25 appearances - they have replaced him with Clarke who has found the net twice in three appearances.
Clarke initially signed on loan from Charlton on January 1st but days later completed a permanent transfer.