'Keeper hails team spirit and demands same commitment for season run-in
Chris Kirkland explained how a vast improvement in team spirit and togetherness made a massive impact on Saturday's win over Burnley.
It seemed at one point that the game would end a stalemate and Latics would again not get the rewards for their performance, but Kirky revealed that at no point did the team feel they wouldn't get the win, a sign of how the mentality in the group has changed of late;
"There are some games where you think to yourself 'we're going to do this', you just get a feeling," said Kirkland.
"Not for one minute did we think it wouldn't be our day, sometimes you do in other games, but something said that we would get the win and that's exactly what we did.
"We stayed determined, sensed the frustration in the fans which is understandable, and kept plugging away, and there's no better time to score a winner than in injury-time.
"It's a massive relief to get the three points, when that goal went in it was a great feeling and one we've not had too many off this season.
"But we're not out of the woods yet, we've got to keep going in the final seven games, but Saturday was a fantastic feeling and we all enjoyed it.
"We've got to make sure now that we reach safety as quick as we can, we don't know how many points will secure that yet but with seven games left we have to stay focused.
"In these scenarios being together as a group is vital, and we didn't have enough of that at the start of the season. The gaffer's right on top of that now and you can see the change it's had.
"As a group we weren't as strong as we should have been, but we've sorted it out and we're looking forward to the run-in now."
The 'keeper was in fine form all afternoon, producing a pivotal save from David Nugent's effort moments before the winner, and giving a frank, surprising assessment of his season Kirky was delighted to contribute to the win;
"I think I've been under-par this season to be honest but it was nice to help the team by keeping a clean-sheet, but it's not about individual performances we're all in it together.
"For one reason or another I've just not felt right, and I felt I owed the team a performance today and it felt good to play a part in the win.
"We've let in far too many goals this season, and on more than one occasion it's been frustrating for the players and the fans. Hopefully after this win we can kick-on into the final seven games and get to where we want to be."
Kirkland also took the time to praise Victor Moses, whose late cross provided the assist for Hugo Rodallega's winner, something the team have been used to seeing in training since his arrival;
"He had a great impact on the game. We knew he would be coming on and we knew he was capable of finding the breakthrough.
"He does it in training all the time, skipping past people, crossing the ball and scoring great goals. He's an exciting talent and we need to make sure we channel his ability in the right way."
