Last Saturday, Wigan slipped out of the play-off places following their 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest- a result that dealt the Latics' promotion hopes a crippling blow at a vital stage of the season. After spending much of the second half of the season in the top six, Paul Jewell's side must now win at West Ham, in their final game of the season, to have any chance of securing a play-off spot. Mark Shail caught up with Andy Liddell and the former Scottish Under 21 international told givemefootball that the players at the JJB haven't given up on winning back-to-back promotions.
Q:LAST SATURDAY'S RESULT AT FOREST MUST HAVE BEEN A BIG BLOW?
A:Yes it was, but it wasn't just that game, we have been struggling to find our best form for some time. Last week we should have got something out of the game against Sunderland but we ended up coming away with nothing. Against Forest we probably deserved to get a draw, but things don't seem to be going for us in front of goal at the moment.
Q:IT LEAVES YOU WITH A DIFFICULT GAME AT UPTON PARK THIS WEEKEND?
A:It's not going to be easy because they are an excellent side. But we will give it our best shot. We also need Cardiff to do us a favour by beating Ipswich, but all we can do is take care of our result and keep our fingers crossed that other results go in our favour. It would be the worst feeling in the world if we don't manage to win and all the other results go our way.
Q:ARE YOU TREATING THE GAME LIKE A CUP FINAL?
A:I suppose so. We'll be going hell-for-leather for the win and it should be a good game. We are expecting to take a big following down to London, so there should be a big crowd and a great atmosphere.
Q:IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT WIGAN HAVE STRUGGLED IN THE LAST THREE OR FOUR WEEKS?
A:We haven't been at our best and to drop out of the play-offs at this late stage of the season is a bitter pill to swallow. But we have to stay positive because we are possibly just 90 minutes away from climbing back into a play-off spot. There is still everything to play for.
Q:HAS GOALSCORING BEEN THE MAJOR PROBLEM?
A:It has been in the last few weeks. We've missed Jason Roberts up front and unfortunately it looks like he will miss the West Ham game as well. Putting the ball in the net is the hardest thing to do in football. That's why strikers get transferred for the most money and get paid the biggest salaries.
Q:DESPITE THE CLUB'S RECENT DIP IN FORM, OVERALL IT HAS BEEN A SOLID SEASON?
A:When you consider this is our first season back in Division One, I think we have done very well. At the start of the season our biggest priority was to win enough points to be safe - so to be in with a chance of finishing in the top six is a pretty good achievement.
Q:YOUR CONTRACT EXPIRES AT THE END OF THE SEASON, ARE YOU HOPING TO STAY AT WIGAN?
A:To be perfectly honest, it looks like I will be leaving. The club has offered me a new one-year-deal which I have turned down. The stumbling block is the length of the contract - it has nothing to do with money. At this stage of my career I am looking for more than a one-year-deal and if Wigan aren't prepared to offer me an extended deal I'll have to take my chance that another club will. There is no animosity at all, I have had a great time at Wigan and I don't want it to turn sour. The club has to look at things from a business point of view - and I understand that, but I have to do what is best for me.
