Why Wigan Athletic boss Paul Cook was always confident of their 'deserved' win over Sheffield Wednesday

The Latics had won just one of their previous 16 matches and remain in the Championship relegation zone, with few expectant of a home win after the Owls’ momentum-building FA Cup win at Queens Park Rangers on Friday.

But it was that fixture that convinced Cook this was the match Wigan would turn their season around, he said, with his side having benefited from a 10-day break since their last outing at Swansea.

Wednesday took the lead through Jacob Murphy but gifted the hosts the best of the match with a lacklustre display.

Cook said: “With Sheffield Wednesday playing in London on Friday night, I genuinely thought there was a real opportunity for us if we showed really good energy levels.

“We had to get some good momentum and obviously their goal took a lot of that out of us. Imagine what that does to our lads, at home, the confidence levels of ‘oh, here we go again’, but come from behind and win a game will do them the world of good.

“Tonight I didn’t feel any nervousness. I don’t remember David Marshall making a save and I’m not being disrespectful of Sheffield Wednesday.

“We had a lot of chances, especially second half, we had good chances.”

Speaking after the match Owls boss Garry Monk tore into the character of his squad, suggesting some players would be moved on under his tenure in order to correct what he described as a lack of desire within the changing room.

Quite the opposite was said of his players by Cook.

“At 1-0 down our season was defined at half-time,” he admitted. “It’s what we spoke to the players about.

“You can lie down and wilt away or you can stand up and fight. I think our dressing room is full of character and I always have.

“The reality is that we lack certain qualities within the team, that’s evident, but in terms of desire and work, no.

“They kept going and kept going and they fully deserved the victory.”