Derby should banish end-of-season blues

Latics’ assistant manager writes every week for Chron Sport

THE 1-1 home draw with Preston was frustrating because even though we were the better team, that crucial final ball let us down all too often.

There was nothing wrong with our approach play, but we lacked extra bite in the final third of the pitch.

I suppose credit should go to Preston for setting out their stall and breaking up our play.

Preston’s goal was a weak one from our point of view, disappointing and sloppy.

One positive to take from the game was the fact Robbie Simpson’s strike came from a set-piece — we haven’t done that enough this term and it was nice to see.

In the end, a draw was probably a fair result and it guaranteed our safety in npower League One.

We travel to Gigg Lane tomorrow for the local derby against Bury.

With both sides out of the running for promotion and the danger of relegation, the focus is on bragging rights, which adds a bit of spice to the occasion.

As always, I know our fans will give us their backing and hopefully there will be a good turn-out.

It is fair to say some of our lads are playing for their future at the club.

Everything is up in the air at the moment, and things will only become clearer when we establish the size of the budget for next season, the deals to be offered and length of contracts.

Nothing is written in stone.