Skipper`s Notes

Having made his comeback from a tight hamstring in the defeat to the Latics the skipper joined the ranks of players trying to explain where we went wrong on Sunday:

"We definitely deserved something out of this game. If not the win, then certainly a draw. You look at the game and Wigan probably did not create a lot of chances but they hit a great goal. But we missed the penalty and had another couple of chances which really we should have put away. It was a disappointing afternoon but I feel there are some positives to take from the game and we have to take them into Middlesbrough at St James' Park on Saturday. We all know Nobby Solano's quality and we were expecting him to score from the penalty spot , but these things happen. Nobby's brave enough to step up there but obviously sometimes players miss them, and unfortunately today that was the case."

"It was difficult in the second half because Wigan are fighting for their lives and they made it hard for us. At least Parker came through unscathed after his groin injury, although he did pick up his seventh domestic booking of the season. I felt OK after having a couple of weeks' rest, and it was good to be back, but the result was very disappointing. We have to pick ourselves up ahead of Middlesbrough, and we have been good at bouncing back this season after bad results. We have been on a decent run and today was a little blip, but I'm sure we can turn that around next weekend.'

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