Wigan boss Paul Cook eyeing title after promotion to Championship

Posted Sunday, April 22, 2018 by PA

Wigan owner Dave Whelan joined the promotion party as Paul Cook’s men clinched an immediate return to the Championship thanks to a 4-0 victory over Fleetwood Town.

Shrewsbury’s draw with Bury saw Wigan clinch promotion with three games to spare and Cook was delighted with the win as goals from Max Power, Gavin Massey, Dan Burn and Chey Dunkley saw them seal a return to the English second tier.

Now it is a two-way battle between the Shrews and Blackburn for that final automatic spot with Tony Mowbray’s side holding a seven-point cushion on Paul Hurts’s surprise promotion chasers.

And Cook was a happy man with one eye on the title but he could not help but throw a dig at rivals Rovers as they aim to pip them to top spot.

He said: “My mind never goes off the job as a manager. Blackburn got a little bit ahead of themselves when we had games in hand with some things said about us becoming fatigued, but we haven’t.

“We’re the first team to be promoted and we got to the quarter-final of the FA Cup. I wish Blackburn and Shrewsbury, with a special mention to them, well.

“We’re very grounded as a staff. It’s a long journey in football and it is a great day.

“The record speaks for itself; clean sheets, goals, wins and the best teams in the league finish at the top.

“I’m so proud of the players. We might be a good fit now but football changes – my time at Portsmouth showed that when we were happy – and then it all changed.

“I’m going to enjoy tonight and it’s great when you’ve managed or played for a club and you lead them to promotion, you’ll always have a place in their heart.”

Fleetwood boss John Sheridan refused to blame the news that Joey Barton would take over from him as head coach on the result but says it did have an affect on the players.

He said: “I’m not blaming that (on the news). I felt we performed well and was confident we would get something from the game.

“It was not to be, it would not have helped them but no way am I looking at that as an excuse.

“We have played against a very good team at the end of the day. Give them credit. Congratulations to Cooky who has done another brilliant job.

“We just move on from it. We were playing against a team that just got promoted, they are a good team. It is just one of those things.

“To stay in the division I think the lads have achieved a hell of a lot. I think we are 98 per cent safe and to get where we are. I’m not going to be hard on them.

“I think it has been probably harder for the players than what it was for myself. We just hopefully bounce back.”