Gary Caldwell on the look out for new players. Photo courtesy of Wigan Athletic.

Latics quickly need to get back to winning ways on Saturday at home to Crewe Alexandra after a very lacklustre performance at Gillingham. Apart from a brief spell in the second half at the Priestfield Stadium, Latics had been unable to replicate the slick pass and move of the Scunthorpe victory.  Several players were well below par on a very hot day in Kent.

If Latics are to be challenging at the top of the table this season they will need to bounce back in their next game. Nothing is certain in football, but Latics will be expected to win against a Crewe team who have started the season poorly and are one of the favourites to be relegated from League One. 

Crewe lost 2-0 at Scunthorpe two weeks ago and they are still awaiting their first win of the season. The Crewe manager Steve Davis has this week re-shuffled his back room staff after their poor start with James Collins coming in as the new first-team coach.

If Latics are to secure the three points they must start with the same intensity that they showed against the Iron. Francisco Junior and David Perkins must stamp their authority on the game from the outset and control the midfield areas. 

The wingbacks, likely to be Jonjoe Kenny and Reece James, must get forward at every opportunity and provide the crosses for the forwards Michael Jacobs, Will Grigg and Craig Davies.

Wigan are a work in progress and there is still a lot of work to be done in all departments. Sadly it was two defensive errors by Chris McCann and Donervon Daniels that contributed to the Gills goals.

The expected return of Jason Pearce from injury should help provide greater solidity to the back line. However, they are still without Tim Chow, Don Cowie and Grant Holt and injuries to Kevin McNaughton and Shaq Coulthirst have further depleted the squad.

As well as the injuries Latics must contend with the ongoing unprecedented turnover of players. Billy Mckay, Leon Barnett and Chris McCann are currently attracting interest from other clubs and may depart.

Gary Caldwell has also indicated that he is on the look out for two or three new players, so expect more outgoings and incomings before the transfer window closes at 6pm on Tuesday night.

This article was first published in the 12th Man column for the Wigan Evening Post on 28th August 2015.