PJ's post match comments

Last updated : 14 February 2004 By Paul Farrington

Jewell said:"It was a massive game and a massive three points after last week, I felt the players did their job very well, as it was a scrappy match at times, because our pitch only allows for that. We did play some great stuff though, and we had to rely on our 'keeper to make two fantastic saves though.

"Derby County have got an awful lot of history behind them, I know that doesnt count for anything. I knew they would come for a point here and play five at the back and try to stop us playing, which is credit to us, but it was a great time to score, just before half-time, when just before that I thought we should have had a penalty. All in all I thought we were full value but we had to rely on Filan to make two quality saves.

"For the first goal it was a great bit of play by Alan Mahon, with a fantastic ball in which is what we have lacked on that left hand side in the past, and obviously it was lovely goal for the Duke to score. Mahons' an intelligent footballer, you can play him all over the park, he's quite illusive as he cuts in and joins up with the front players. It's nigh on impossible to play decent football on that pitch, but credit to my players they dug in and created some great stuff.

"I think we needed the second goal because when it's at one-nil, well we know from at experience at Derby we were 2-0 up and only got a draw. When its 1-0 against a team fighting for their lives we know it's always going to be difficult. We couldn't emphasise enough that today was going to be different type of game compared to last weekend, because today was about just getting the three points and I didn't care how we got them. I felt we were better than Derby to be perfectly honest, and I think we deserved it but this stage of the season is all about results.

"Tealey's done exceptionally well to get into the Scotland squad, and so has Lee McCulloch for getting into the stand-by squad as well. It's nice to get that bit of recognition but I don't know where the England lads are, especially with Leighton Baines, I see some of the players getting into the England U20's and the U19's squad, I might send a map to Wigan to some of the FA people!

"We're in that top part of the table fighting to get into the play-offs, and if we do make it, then great! If anything else happens then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. People will want to talk about this, that, and the other but we just want to talk about the next game. Overall we fully deserved the three points today."

Source : wiganathletic.tv