Steven Schumacher wants Wanderers to re-write their recent derby history with Wigan and enhance hopes of a happy ending to the season, writes Pete Oliver.
The Whites’ recent record against their local rivals has been a tale of woe, with no win over the Latics in a decade and no victory at Wigan since 2011.
However, Schumacher’s men have a chance to start a new chapter when they go to the Brick Community Stadium on Tuesday night in a game Schumacher admits can’t get much bigger at this stage of the campaign.
“No, it can't,” said the Wanderers’ head coach as his side looks to end a three-game losing run and potentially climb back into the play-off places. “There's a lot at stake. We understand that we need to get back on track.
“We need to get some points on the board because the last few results have gone against us and we don't want to fall out of that play-off hunt. It's so important for us from that perspective, as it's important for Wigan. They need points as well to get themselves away from the relegation zone.
“Also, it's a huge rivalry and a massive derby game, so it's a big game and we're looking forward to it. It would be great (to win it). History is history, it's gone. We have to focus on this game, see if we can get the bragging rights and most importantly get the points that we want.”
The game at Wigan, where the 18th-placed Latics have lost just once in their last four games, also throws up an extra dimension for Schumacher in his first taste of the rivalry. Wigan have also changed their manager in recent times with the man now charged with keeping them clear of the bottom four a friend and former team-mate and boss in the shape of Ryan Lowe.
The two Merseysiders shared a dressing room as players at Crewe and Bury, where they later launched a management team that produced success at Gigg Lane and again at Plymouth Argyle before Lowe left to take charge of Preston and Schumacher led the Pilgrims to promotion from League One before moving onto Stoke City.
“It'll be good, it should be a good game,” added Schumacher, who is six years Lowe’s junior and aiming to steal a march on his former number-one without the services of banned midfielder Aaron Morley following his red card at Blackpool on Saturday. “We enjoy the battle going up against each other. This will be the third time we've done it.
“It's one-all currently. They've all been at Ryan's place. I've been away from home every time, so it'll be a good challenge. We don't speak to each other for a few days leading up to the game but once the game's over we'll become mates again.
“I know exactly what he'll be saying to his team. He'll be getting them fired up for it because he'll be stressing how important this derby game is to them as well and they'll be ready, I'm sure. He'll have them well organised and as will we.”
Wanderers’ flying start under Schumacher has stalled slightly over the last three games with his side losing by a single goal on each occasion to slip out of the top six. But the gap to the play-off places is only two points with eight games to go and the Whites’ boss is staying calm as the run-in gathers pace.
“We spoke about it on Thursday when we got the international players back,” Schumacher told Wanderers TV. “We said in these last nine games, from my experience as a manager, the last nine games you get some bad results thrown in there and it's important that you don't get carried away with a really good result and you don't get carried away if you lose one.
“There's still a lot to play for and you have to keep your focus. You have to stick to the plan and keep performing the way that they are. We feel as though we've been playing well in the last three games, even though the results have gone against us.
“We've created loads of opportunities, we've been dangerous going forward without being clinical enough, but we've also been a little bit careless and, at times, been a bit open and made a mistake or two, which has cost us goals. Both ends of the pitch we need to tighten up, but the rest of the general play has been pretty good. Small margins, but there isn't too much wrong with how we're playing.”
Watch the full pre-match interview with the boss on Wanderers TV