Caretaker manager Pete Wild is demanding his side show a reaction when they take on Doncaster Rovers tomorrow in the Emirates FA Cup.
Last week’s defeat at Macclesfield Town was disappointing for the club, but Wild says the players have responded well in training this week.
“The lads have been excellent, we've increased the intensity in training after a such a disappointing result on Saturday.” He said.
“We got among the lads, they've responded really well, and the training has been really lively.
“It's probably the best week of training we've had since I've been in charge in this interim period.”
Wild says he didn’t let the squad forget about the result last Saturday at the start of the week and he says his opinions hadn’t changed from after the game.
He’s disappointed to have to ask for a reaction from his team, but it is a position the club have found themselves in previously this season.
“I revisited the game on Monday on the training ground and I told them that my thoughts hadn't changed.” He commented.
“I thought we let everybody down, ourselves down and it was up to us all to put it right this week which is something I feel we've done.
“Actions speak louder than words and we'll see the true test on Saturday.
“It disappoints me that we have to ask for reactions, we shouldn't be in this position, but we are, so Saturday we need a reaction from all of us.”
Chris O’Grady missed the defeat at Macclesfield through injury, but Wild says he is back available this weekend.
Wild also revealed that Jonathan Benteke is back in training after an ankle injury he suffered against Notts County in November.
“We've got a fully fit squad now, so we've got a chance to find some consistency.
“We may mix things around a little bit and we've got a chance for people to fight for their places in this team.
“Chris is back training with us, Jonathan Benteke joined the group today, so we're back up to full numbers except Dan (Gardner).”
Latics have strengthened the squad this January with the signings of Sohny Sefil, Mohamad Sylla and Urko Vera.
Wild says the club have identified a couple of positions that need extra bodies, but he’s unsure whether Latics will be able to get them or not.
“There's a couple we'd like to do, a couple of positions we'd like to strengthen in, but whether that'll happen or not I'm not sure.
“I need to sit down with the owner and see what they're thinking, but we're both clear the areas we want to strengthen, but whether we do or not is a different question.”
Latics take on a Doncaster side going well in Sky Bet League One as they currently sit 7th in the table.
The two teams are no strangers to each other in this competition either, as they’ve met in six of the past 12 Emirates FA Cup campaigns.
Wild has also been impressed with the way current Doncaster manager Grant McCann has got his side playing.
“Grant McCann and Cliff Byrne have got them playing some really good stuff over there, and they're two people I really admire in the coaching business.
“It's going to be really tough and we'll have to be at our best to have a chance otherwise we'll get beat.”
Latics fans will once again be turning out in their vast numbers after selling out the away end at Doncaster.
3800 tickets were sold for the Emirates FA Cup tie and Wild says that the team owe the fans one against Doncaster after last weekend’s performance.
“It's class and somebody told me the average away attendances since I've been in charge have been is about 2500.
“It's ridiculous really for a League Two club, but the fans have been unbelievable and 3800 going to Doncaster will be special once again.
“We owe them one for last week, but we owe everybody one, the whole club and that wasn't us last Saturday, so we'll be looking to put it right this Saturday.”