Cook thrilled as Wigan take step towards promotion
Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2018 by PA
Wigan boss Paul Cook hailed an ‘outstanding win’ over Oxford that means his Sky Bet League One leaders can clinch promotion back to the Championship as early as this weekend.
The Latics had thrashed Oxford 7-0 just before Christmas, but this one was so tight that one goal always looked as though it could be decisive.
And just three minutes remained when substitutes Devante Cole and Will Grigg dovetailed, with the former laying it on a plate for the latter to slot home from eight yards for the only goal.
Wigan are now three points clear of second-placed Blackburn – but eight clear of third-placed Shrewsbury – with four matches to go.
“It was a great win, an outstanding win,” said Cook.
“It’s been such a roller-coaster ride, and to get to 90 points and not be up already is scary.
“It’s an unbelievable amount of points to still not be there, but there’s plenty of work still to be done.”
A large section of the home fans had resigned themselves to their side being held to a second goalless draw at home in the space of four days, after Rotherham escaped with a point at the weekend.
But Cook says he never allowed himself to lose faith in a team who have usually delivered for him this term.
“I’ve got plenty of faith in this group of players,” he added.
“It’s hard to say you think the goal will come, but I think our fans deserved us to have a crack at it.
“We went with two strikers in the second half and it is a dangerous game, because you sacrifice the middle of the pitch.
“The game becomes a bit end to end, and we could have ended up losing 1-0.
“If that had happened, it would have been ‘C’est la vie’, let’s move on to Fleetwood this weekend and go again.
“But I really feel we deserved our reward for all the hard work we put in.”
Oxford boss Karl Robinson was very close to holding Wigan to a 0-0 draw at the DW for the second time this term, after his Charlton side shared the spoils just after Christmas.
“Our game-plan was perfect, we had three opportunities to score and we didn’t take them,” he assessed.
“Then when we turned into an under-23 team, losing our shape, we get picked off. It’s simple football.
“I don’t think it was a case of being exhausted, the problem with the game was we looked like we were going to get the goal.
“With that we lost discipline, but we’re a young team and we’re learning.
“I’m pleased the team could come here and carry out a game-plan like that, but we’ve got nothing which is the most important thing.
“But I don’t think we’ve lost face here. What was it before, 7-0? At no stage did it look like we were going to lose by a goal tonight.”
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