Paper Talk: Skin city

Last updated : 23 February 2005 By Wigan Evening Post.
Latics tackle the Sky Blues at Highfield Road tonight (kick-off 7.45pm) on the back of Saturday's 3-0 thumping of the men from Elland Road.

That was rated their best display of the season to date and strengthened their bid for automatic promotion.

But Jewell has stressed the need to follow it up with three more points so not to waste the hard work against Leeds.

He told the Evening Post: "It was a good win on Saturday, we played well but that is finished now and we have to concentrate on Coventry.

"It's going to be a difficult game but one we're looking forward to and our aim is to pick up another three points.

"We can take confidence from the games against Crewe and Leeds, with our victories achieved in different ways.

"We scored six goals, only conceded one, and it would be nice if we can turn two wins on the spin into three."

Jewell was today waiting for fitness reports on three players who picked up injuries against Leeds.

Strike pair Nathan Ellington (hamstring) and Jason Roberts (groin) are among the casualties but are hopeful of playing.

The biggest doubt is the third player who Jewell declined to name so not to alert Coventry boss Micky Adams.

Even if the mystery casualty doesn't play tonight, he was still intending travelling in the hope of being fit for Saturday's visit to Gillingham – Latics head south after the game.

Elsewhere on the medical front, centre-half Emerson Thome (hamstring) is ruled out again.

Jewell's hopes of drafting in cover appear to have stalled, so the squad should have a familiar look when it arrives in the Midlands.

But he will continue his efforts this week, determined to bring in at least one new face soon.

Coventry will be on a high after ending a five-match losing run with victory over Reading last Saturday.

It nudged them a place up the table although they are only four points above the relegation zone.

Jewell said: "Micky Adams got his first win at Coventry on Saturday and he will be looking to build on that.

"We have to make sure we are not caught sleeping because I'm sure they will come out of the traps quickly.

"I didn't realise how far down the table they were until I looked the other day, so this game is a huge one for them.

"But I expect us to be full of confidence after the way we played in the last two games, especially against Leeds.

"At the moment, we're six points better off than at this stage last year and we'll only find out at the end of the season whether we're better equipped.

"Now we have to be braver than last season and learn from both our good and bad experiences."

Victory for Latics tonight would see them go top on goal difference after Ipswich's shock 2-1 home defeat to Watford last night.

The game is no longer all-ticket for Latics fans who can buy tickets at the ground.