Home is the heart of Latics’ challenge

AIMING HIGH: Athletic’s midfield man James Wesolowski wants to be challenging near the play-offs.

JAMES Wesolowski is lining up a home run for Athletic.

After getting stuck into his midfield duties to play a major role in outperforming MK Dons on Monday night, the battling former Peterborough midfielder hopes it can be the start of something good at Boundary Park.

Despite the poor crowd for the televised game, Athletic lifted their collective level to record only a second win of the npower League One campaign on home soil — and only a third victory in 16 including last season, in what has become anything but a fortress.

The 24-year-old got a welcome taste of promotion glory last year, helping Posh to a play-off final victory over Huddersfield.

He now hopes that the club can continue to translate the superb away form into Boundary Park points on a consistent basis.

"Our home form hasn't been good enough this year and hopefully that is something we can turn around," said Wesolowski.

"Away from home, we have been a different class.

"But at the end of the day, it is our home form which will determine if we are up near the top of the division or in the lower half.

"So after this victory, hopefully we can kick on from here.

"It was a great result for us. MK Dons are one of the best sides in this division and they will end up finishing near the top this year, either in the play-off or automatic promotion spots.

"So to go out there and get that result is fantastic."

A fortuitous slip by Dons goalkeeper David Martin led to Shefki Kuqi's first-half opener for Athletic, with Tom Adeyemi gaining reward for a lung-busting performance in midfield with a neatly-taken second.

The on-loan Norwich man's strike provided insurance for Athletic that was needed as a result of Clinton Morrison's late goal for the visitors — but there was little doubt that Paul Dickov's side were worthy of the three points in severely soggy conditions.

"It was tough but I think the rain actually made it better for our passing game," Wesolowski added.

"On the skiddy surface, we played some nice stuff. Especially in the first half, I think that is the best half of football we have played this season.

"In the second half they started to pop it around a fair bit, but we coped with it quite well.

"Our back four was fantastic and everyone put in a good shift. It was a more gritty performance in the second half.

"But we got the result and that is the main thing."

Wesolowski is aware that he, along with Adeyemi, faces a battle to keep his place with the return to fitness of captain Dean Furman.

Along with the rest of the squad, he believes he will get the rewards through hard graft — starting with the trip to Tranmere on Saturday.

"Tranmere have had a mixed start but it will be a tough game over there, as it always is," he said.

"We will have to go out, work hard on the training pitch and hopefully keep the run going." JAMES Wesolowski is lining up a home run for Athletic.

After getting stuck into his midfield duties to play a major role in outperforming MK Dons on Monday night, the battling former Peterborough midfielder hopes it can be the start of something good at Boundary Park.

Despite the poor crowd for the televised game, Athletic lifted their collective level to record only a second win of the npower League One campaign on home soil — and only a third victory in 16 including last season, in what has become anything but a fortress.

The 24-year-old got a welcome taste of promotion glory in May, helping Posh to a play-off final victory over Huddersfield.

He now hopes that the club can continue to translate the superb away form into Boundary Park points on a consistent basis.

"Our home form hasn't been good enough this year and hopefully that is something we can turn around," said Wesolowski.

"Away from home, we have been a different class.

"But at the end of the day, it is our home form which will determine if we are up near the top of the division or in the lower half.

"So after this victory, hopefully we can kick on from here.

"It was a great result for us. MK Dons are one of the best sides in this division and they will end up finishing near the top this year, either in the play-off or automatic promotion spots.

"So to go out there and get that result is fantastic."

A fortuitous slip by Dons goalkeeper David Martin led to Shefki Kuqi's first-half opener for Athletic, with Tom Adeyemi

gaining reward for a lung-busting performance in midfield with a neatly-taken second.

The on-loan Norwich man's strike provided insurance for Athletic that was needed as a result of Clinton Morrison's late goal for the visitors — but there was little doubt that Paul Dickov's side were worthy of the three points in severely soggy conditions.

"It was tough but I think the rain actually made it better for our passing game," Wesolowski added.

"On the skiddy surface, we played some nice stuff. Especially in the first half, I think that is the best half of football we have played this season.

"In the second half they started to pop it around a fair bit, but we coped with it quite well.

"Our back four was fantastic and everyone put in a good shift. It was a more gritty performance in the second half.

"But we got the result and that is the main thing."

Wesolowski is aware that he, along with Adeyemi, faces a battle to keep his place with the return to fitness of captain Dean Furman.

Along with the rest of the squad, he believes he will get the rewards through hard graft — starting with the trip to Tranmere on Saturday.

"Tranmere have had a mixed start but it will be a tough game over there, as it always is," he said.

"We will have to go out, work hard on the training pitch and hopefully keep the run going."