New surface adds spice to big game

LEE CROFT

Athletic’s wing wizard writes every week for Chron Sport

TOMORROW’S game is only five minutes down the road from Orrell, where I am from.

As a fan of Wigan Warriors, it was interesting to see how badly the pitch cut up in their game with Catalans last week — which meant the decision was taken to relay the pitch in time for our game at the DW Stadium.

Hopefully, it will turn out to be a good surface to play on, as it was for us when we went to Shrewsbury. The trouble is, you never know with relaid turf if it will cut up during the game. If that happens, then we will have to adjust and deal with it.

Everyone is really looking forward to this one and as a player, you always want to test yourself against the best sides.

We gave them a good game at our place earlier this season. When the score was 1-1 after Dominic Poleon equalised, I felt we were the only team likely to go on and win and that was something we could easily have done.

On a big pitch tomorrow, it should suit the way the gaffer wants us to play. He wants us compact and able to pass and penetrate wherever we can.

Wigan are a big club at this level, but we know very well that in League One, every club can beat each other. It is all about doing the job we need to on the day.

After Saturday, we face a game at Blackpool on Tuesday. If we were to win both that really would stand us well — possibly out of the bottom four - with games in hand on the sides around us.