Coyle: Continue The Home Form
Posted on: Fri 12 Mar 2010
Wanderers are five matches unbeaten on home soil, and Manager Owen Coyle has called for his players to try and continue that achievement from now until the end of the season.
The Whites return to the Reebok again this weekend following two away fixtures at Upton Park and the Stadium of Light.
And Coyle admits that the fact that they are in action just four days after the defeat against Sunderland is a benefit as they look to correct their form.
"When you lose a game, you want to get out there straight away and look to bounce back," explained Coyle.
"We gave ourselves a lot to do having conceded a goal after 44 seconds, having said that, we played well for the next hour.
"The first half was even and for 20 minutes at the start of the second-half then we were terrific. We should have scored an equaliser, we didn't, and then we were struck with injuries and the sending-off.
"We had four wide players in the four midfield positions and then Chung-Yong Lee had to move to right-back.
"But the effort that the players have put in has been remarkable. We have played five of our last six games away from home and we moved out of the bottom three in the Premier League in that period through hard work and quality.
"That's what we have to bring to the table again in the coming weeks. We have nine matches left, of which five are at the Reebok Stadium.
"We have to make sure that we get the points needed to remain in the Premier League and we will look to do that with a smile on our faces because there is so much to be positive about at this football club."
Wigan Athletic travel to the Reebok one place and one point behind the Whites in the Premier League table, and Coyle is fully aware of the quality that Roberto Martinez's side possess.
Coyle added: "We recognise that we are playing a very good side in Wigan who had a tremendous boost the other night with their victory over Liverpool.
"Few people would have predicted that result, but certainly not Roberto (Martinez), his players and the fans. They would have felt that it was an opportunity to win a game at home, and they did that.
"They scored a very good goal, albeit with the help of a pass from a Liverpool player to start the move, but that's what happens in football.
"So we have to make sure that we match up and nullify the threat that Wigan have, but equally I will be concentrating on what my players do and look to get the best out of them."
The Whites return to the Reebok again this weekend following two away fixtures at Upton Park and the Stadium of Light.
And Coyle admits that the fact that they are in action just four days after the defeat against Sunderland is a benefit as they look to correct their form.
"When you lose a game, you want to get out there straight away and look to bounce back," explained Coyle.
"We gave ourselves a lot to do having conceded a goal after 44 seconds, having said that, we played well for the next hour.
"The first half was even and for 20 minutes at the start of the second-half then we were terrific. We should have scored an equaliser, we didn't, and then we were struck with injuries and the sending-off.
"We had four wide players in the four midfield positions and then Chung-Yong Lee had to move to right-back.
"But the effort that the players have put in has been remarkable. We have played five of our last six games away from home and we moved out of the bottom three in the Premier League in that period through hard work and quality.
"That's what we have to bring to the table again in the coming weeks. We have nine matches left, of which five are at the Reebok Stadium.
"We have to make sure that we get the points needed to remain in the Premier League and we will look to do that with a smile on our faces because there is so much to be positive about at this football club."
Wigan Athletic travel to the Reebok one place and one point behind the Whites in the Premier League table, and Coyle is fully aware of the quality that Roberto Martinez's side possess.
Coyle added: "We recognise that we are playing a very good side in Wigan who had a tremendous boost the other night with their victory over Liverpool.
"Few people would have predicted that result, but certainly not Roberto (Martinez), his players and the fans. They would have felt that it was an opportunity to win a game at home, and they did that.
"They scored a very good goal, albeit with the help of a pass from a Liverpool player to start the move, but that's what happens in football.
"So we have to make sure that we match up and nullify the threat that Wigan have, but equally I will be concentrating on what my players do and look to get the best out of them."
Advertisement
