Kirkland positive ahead of Man Utd clash on Wednesday

Chris Kirkland believes if Latics re-produce the kind of performance shown in the second-half against Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday night, it could just be a night to remember.

Old Trafford is the venue for Latics' final game of the decade, and as we reach the midway point of the 2009/10 season, Kirkland says that although the points tally could have been higher, it's an indicator of how tough the league is.

"You've no given right to beat anybody in this league, it's extremely tough and gets tougher with each season," said Kirkland.

"We've got a game in hand against Bolton but there are no guarantees there, they'll be eyeing up three points just as much as we are.

"For now we've got an extremely difficult game to prepare for on Wednesday night against Manchester United. If we perform there like we did in the second-half against Blackburn it could be our lucky day to get something from Old Trafford.

"It's a great game to look forward to and everyone will have to be at 110% for the entire game to even stand a chance of getting a result, and that's what will be drilled into us in the build-up to the game."

Kirkland was in top form against Rovers on Saturday, and although he was disappointed with Benni McCarthy's opening goal, he did produce a magnificent point-blank save from the forward towards the end of the game to keep the scores even.

"I was just in the right place at the right time. I didn't really know much about it and it was a nice feeling, it's just unfortunate we couldn't go on and seal the win we deserved, especially when you consider the pressure we put on them in the second-half.

"We knew how big a threat they are from set-pieces, they make things very difficult for their opposition.

"Obviously we were very upset to concede in the manner we did and it's something we'll have to look at, but I think for the majority of the game our defence dealt with the threat very well."

It was clear at half-time that Latics were not performing to their best, and Kirkland paid credit to the approach the gaffer took in turning things round for the second-half.

"Well the manager said his bit at half-time; understandably he wasn't happy, he knew we weren't at our best and he just said that we needed to pick ourselves up and play how we know we can then we would have a chance. All credit to him because the changes he made paid off.

"The gaffer always wants us to dictate the pace of the game, and we simply didn't do that in the first-half.

"What he said at half-time shook us up, he said what he had to and made some changes and it worked well."