McCarthy targeting home wins

Last updated : 27 January 2011 By Paul Farrington

McCarthy, James.JPGThe 20 year old midfielder has missed three months of football following the ankle ligament damage he suffered against Bolton earlier in the season.

McCarthy is a key player for the Latics and he has revealed to the Wigan Evening Post that the home games will be key should the club survive.

“There are still a lot of home games still to go which are going to be pivotal, Blackburn being the next one (on Saturday week," said McCarthy. “We’re all disappointed with the result on Tuesday, but we’ll stick together as a group.

“I thought it was a great performance despite the points going to Villa, and we need to pick ourselves up as quickly as possible.

“We’ve got a big derby match coming up at Bolton in the FA Cup and then an even bigger match-up against West Brom next week – and we need to continue to keep our spirits up and working hard.”

The former Hamilton midfielder was also pleased to be playing alongside James McArthur, also formerly of Hamilton. He added: “James gives you that bit of dig in the midfield along with Hendry (Thomas), and between the three of us I think we created some good chances in the first half.

“But we just couldn’t get the goal we needed. Then a few minutes after the break, they go up the other end of the pitch and scored, which knocked the stuffing out of us.

“The end product just wasn’t there, but you have nights like that sometimes and we had one against Villa. We had plenty of chances and possession in the first-half which made it even more disappointing to go behind and lose the game.”

McCarthy is expected to only play a bit part in this weekends game with Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup as he is held in reserve for the important clashes with West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers which are on the horizon.

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