'Keeper says team must pull together and battle through tough times

Chris Kirkland believes that although things aren't going Latics' way at the moment, the team must remain positive if they are to finish the season positive.

Kirkland was speaking after Saturday's defeat to Birmingham, a game which typified the luck, or lack of it, that Latics are experiencing at the moment, but the 'keeper stressed the importance of sticking together and pulling in the same direction in order to put things right:

"Coming away from the game feeling like this isn't easy but games are running out now and we have to stand up and be counted for to get a few wins," said Kirkland.

"We started off badly in the first-half and in the end gave ourselves a mountain to climb. It's not quite happening at the minute and we have to make sure we get back on track and back to winning games.

"That's football, that's life really; if you keep feeling sorry for yourself you'll continue to get beat. Yes it hurts and it will for a while, but we have to pick ourselves up and get ready for a big game against Liverpool.

"I've been here a few years now along with some of the other lads and along with those who have some into the squad recently we all have to step up and be counted for. We all have to pull together because time is running out and if we don't do something soon we could be in serious trouble."

There were two incidents during Saturday's game that left a bitter taste in the mouth after the final whistle, the penalty awarded to the home side on the stroke of half-time, and the dangerous tackle by Liam Ridgewell on James McCarthy that went unpunished.

Kirky first gave his view on the penalty awarded to the home side:

He said: "One minute goes up and your thinking, 'keep it like this until half-time and we can have a good go second-half'.

"At the time of seeing it I had no complaints it looked a penalty and they've scored their goal from it. I've yet to see a replay which might reveal otherwise, but at the time it looked the right decision."

But he had no doubts on the Ridgewell tackle that could have seriously injured McCarthy and led to the linesman being stretchered off:

"Unbelievable that one. I was shouting to our lads to ask the ref what was going on. You can see it a mile away that he must have run about 20-yards to get to James and luckily our man hasn't been hurt badly because it was horrific.

"I don't like to see players booked but when you see a challenge like that you have to expect some kind of punishment."