Shaun Maloney admits his Wigan Athletic side are “ahead of schedule” after starting their Sky Bet League One campaign with two successive wins following a 2-1 victory over Northampton at the DW Stadium.
Having started the campaign with an eight-point deduction for financial issues last season, Wigan are now only two points from wiping out that deficit after a flying start.
Two goals in the last 20 minutes from Charlie Hughes and Callum McManaman gave them victory over Northampton, who had led through a Sam Hoskins free-kick after 24 minutes.
Maloney’s men would move into positive points with another win at Carlisle on Tuesday.
“It’s been a really positive start in the league,” he said.
“We set ourselves a target of six games to get into positive points, so we’re maybe a little ahead of schedule.
“But we know what football can do.
“In terms of today’s game, I thought it opened up in the last 20 minutes, but we had a brilliant feeling at the end.
“And all the credit has to go to the players.
“It was the players that had to see out the last half an hour at Derby, where we had to defend for our lives.
“We had to do the same here for the last 10 minutes plus seven minutes of injury time.
“But the mentality of the young group, I think it’s always a bit of an unknown.
“And we had some big, big performances today to get us over the line.”
Wigan’s matchwinner was McManaman, who is in his third spell at the club, having won a 12-month deal in the summer after training with the side since Maloney’s arrival in January.
“I thought he was brilliant in the first half against Derby, but he’s had a knock on his hip,” added the Wigan boss.
“I would have liked to have started him today, and I ended up needing him longer than I wanted.
“But it was a brilliant day for Callum.
“I’ve seen the progression he’s made while he’s been back here, all the work he’s put in, and I’m so, so happy for him.”
For Northampton boss Jon Brady, it was a case of what might have been.
“It’s a step up in standard and, if you don’t defend right, you get punished, and we were today,” he said.
“We’re still getting there, but today’s performance gave me a lot of confidence in the group.
“On a big pitch like this, it’s very difficult to step on and press like we did in the first half.
“And that’s a big reason why we couldn’t step on as much in the second half.
“We scored a very good goal, that’s the quality Sam possesses.
“We also hit the post, but I’ll compliment Wigan here.
“The blocks in the box won them the game today.
“A lot of our opportunities were what I’d want from my team.
“But their attitude, their never-say-die, their never-give-up, was really commendable.”
Both Brady and his assistant Colin Caldwerwood were yellow carded in the final half an hour by referee Ross Joyce.
“McManaman has poleaxed one of my players, and the referee has done nothing about that,” he added.
“And the fourth official pretends he hasn’t seen it, which is disappointing.
“It’s just the consistency and the dark arts they were using.
“But I’ll leave it there before I say too much.”
'Super simple' – Lille president rules out January exit for Jonathan David
Lille president Olivier Letang has categorically ruled out a January exit for forward Jonathan David amid links with a number of European clubs.
David is out of contract at the end of the season and has been touted as a target for the likes of Bayern Munich, Juventus and Barcelona.
Speaking this week, the Canada international named Barcelona as his "dream" club but suggested he would prefer not to leave Lille mid-season.
And in an interview with After Foot RMC, Letang confirmed no bids have yet been tabled ahead of the January window.
"We are not going to sell him in January, and we have not received any offer for him," he said.
"Jonathan's situation is super simple. We are very happy to have him with us.
"Last season he had one more year left on his contract. We were trying to qualify for the Champions League.
"You have a guy who scores 20 to 25 goals a season. We had no obligation to sell him."
David is into his fifth season with Lille and has scored 97 goals in 202 games for the Ligue 1 side in all competitions while assisting a further 18.
Seven of those goals have arrived in 11 appearances this term, including in Champions League games against Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Juventus.
The 24-year-old's best league season with Lille saw him score 24 goals in 2022-23, while he has netted 19, 15 and 13 in the other full campaigns.
Lille chief Letang reiterated that David has been offered a new deal to stay on at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, but selling him has never been an option.
"He is a player who scores between 20 and 25 goals and helps us qualify for the Champions League," he said.
"Plus, Jonathan loves Lille, which is his club. Our position was very clear from the beginning – we think of the athlete.
"Obviously, he already has an offer that is in his hands, the ball is in his court."
Guardiola suggests Man City's recent form played part in signing new contract
Pep Guardiola suggested Manchester City's run of four successive defeats was part of the reason for his contract extension.
The 53-year-old recently signed a two-year deal, which will run out in 2027, ending months of speculation about his future after his contract had been due to run out at the end of the campaign.
Following a 2-1 defeat to Brighton before the international break, Guardiola's side have lost each of their last four matches in all competitions for the first time in his managerial career.
"I felt I could not leave now. Maybe the four defeats was why," he told the club's website.
"I think we deserve, after four defeats in a row, to bounce back and try to turn the situation. I think we deserve to be here. I am not arrogant to say, but it's the truth."
Guardiola has led Manchester City to 18 major trophies during his nine-year stint at the club and posted a 72% win ratio.
He added that he was determined to help the club get back to a state where they are "more stable and more consistent".
"We have to recover that because right now we don't have it and that's the target we have to do," he said.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak added: "Like every City fan, I am delighted that Pep's journey with Manchester City will continue, allowing his dedication, passion and innovative thinking to continue to shape the landscape of the game.
"His hunger for improvement and success remains insatiable and the direct beneficiaries of that will continue to be our players and coaching staff, the culture of our club, and the English game at large."
Leicester's Fatawu ruled out for rest of season with ACL injury
Leicester City manager Steve Cooper confirmed Abdul Fatawu will miss the rest of the season.
The 20-year-old sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL) while playing for Ghana against Angola during the international break.
Fatawu has featured in all 11 of Leicester's Premier League matches so far this season and has registered two assists.
No Leicester player has attempted (61) or completed (29) more dribbles than him, while his 30 crosses is also a team-high in the top-flight this season.
"It's not good, it's a serious injury," said Cooper ahead of their match against Chelsea on Saturday.
"It's a real blow, first and foremost for him, being a young player and having an injury as serious as what an ACL is.
"Albeit, it can be quite common in sport, and in particular football, but it's still a serious injury.
"For it to happen at a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us as well.
"He's obviously a big talent and a young player, as exciting as he can be at his age, with lots to learn.
"It's only a pause, and we will make sure, as difficult as it is at the moment for him, that he comes back being a stronger player and person, which, with the mentality and character that he has, I think will be the case."
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