Manager Richie Wellens has learned a lot since his first game in charge of the club against tomorrow’s opposition Peterborough United.
Wellens beat Posh that day 3-2 and since then, he has been through a lot but has learned on the way.
He said: “Some things that I have had to experience in the last four months will stand me in good stead, no doubt about it.
“Some of the things you have to deal with, you don’t expect a football manager to deal with.
“Grant McCann is someone who has gone through everything I’ve been through. He’s had really good spells as a manager and he’s had spells where he hasn’t done quite so well, that is the nature of this league.
“By the end of the season, I could have seven or eight different starting players than I did at the start of the season. The turnover of players is huge and that’s something I want to change.
“If I can get a smaller number of players in the summer and get more quality in the side then the turnover of players will not be so high.
“Peterborough are a good side, they score a lot of goals and have good players so we know it’s going to be a tough game.”
Latics travel to the ABAX Stadium tomorrow afternoon and the manager believes it will be an entertaining affair.
“It will be a good football match,” he commented. “They will be really open in possession and they won’t change the way they play.
“Marriott will play up front on his own and Lloyd will play one side with Maddison on the other, both will come inside a lot and get their shots off.
“Maddison has one of the highest assists whilst Marriott is the top goalscorer in the league. They are good in possession but very open when they lose the ball.”
In terms of squad news, the manager gave an update ahead of the game.
“Dummigan might be back, Dan Gardner is ill and we seem to have a prolonged illness in the squad,” he said.
“We are waiting for Kean Bryan and Jack to be registered still and they will be a huge bonus when they are back.
“Tom Hamer came in and did great but he’s hurt his hamstring. That is his body not being used for that intensity of football and he’s got a slight problem but everyone else is okay.”