'Appeal to us' - Wigan Athletic boss relishing Sheffield Wednesday challenge ahead of Hillsborough showdown
It will be a top-versus-bottom clash when Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan Athletic go head-to-head at Hillsborough on Saturday afternoon.
Wigan Athletic head coach Gary Caldwell has said his players should embrace the challenge of facing Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Saturday afternoon.
The two sides will go into their first meeting in four-and-a-half years at contrasting ends of the League One table, with Wednesday currently occupying top spot and Wigan propping up the division following very different starts to the campaign.
The Owls secured a third successive victory last time out, beating Peterborough United 2-1 at the Weston Homes Stadium to climb to the summit for the first time this season, while Wigan were blown away by Stockport County, losing 4-0 at the Brick Community Stadium.
While Wednesday have won four of their opening five league matches this season, Wigan have lost four of their first five outings, with their only victory thus far coming against MK Dons (3-1) just over a week ago.
Although the odds are firmly stacked against his side ahead of this weekend’s encounter, Wigan boss Caldwell is relishing the challenge, speaking fondly of Hillsborough.
"It's a challenge that should appeal to us and one that we should look forward to," said Caldwell, as quoted by Wigan Today.
"Hillsborough is a very difficult place to go. I would call it a real traditional stadium. It's always full and full of energy.
"But if you can go there and win, it shows what your team is all about, and that you've got a bit about you."
Reflecting on his side’s underwhelming start to the campaign, Caldwell, who is currently in his second spell as Wigan boss, added: “Rome wasn't built in a day, it takes time. If you look at any successful football club...the top club in the country right now is Arsenal.
"And they have taken a number of years - and a lot of lows along the way - to get to where they are now. Sometimes when you see success, it's very easy to forget the difficulties and the lows you have to experience.
"We are at the very beginning of our journey, we are very much a work in progress. We had a magnificent performance and result on the Wednesday, (vs MK Dons) and we find out very quickly on the Saturday (vs Stockport) that that is what football does.”