View From The Town End: Wigan

How would you sum up Wigan's season so far?

Patchy at best, we play well one game and dire the next. It's hard to tell which Wigan side will turn up to play and how we will go about the game.

If good Wigan turn up we play well and beat teams. We saw them against Southampton, Tottenham and West Ham, yet we have seen the bad side too much, losing games against West Brom and Fulham at home, games we should be winning.

Last year was the latest in a line of great escapes from the Latics, are you confident you can survive this year?

We are confident we can do it, and we know we should be doing better than we are. In reality we are a top of the middle side, the players know it, the fans know it and the manger believes it. Our start of the season lets us down, and I predict another burst of form at the end of the season will help get us comfortably safe.

Despite seven years of top division football, attendances are still fairly low, do you feel the club can grow long term or is this about as good as it's likely to get?

We are getting a bigger fan base every year. We you think 10 years ago we had about an average home support of 6-8 thousand and the total now stands at near 17 thousand that's rather impressive.

When you then factor in the town population of about 80 thousand, with the much bigger well established local teams from Manchester and Liverpool. We are doing really well for ourselves and not enough people look at the hard facts when they see Wigan Athletic.

What are your views on Reading this season?

You have a good side with some talented players, your luck has just struck out. What you have to hope is that you are having your bad spell at the beginning of the season and not at the end of it, Blackpool and Burnley both felt the wrath of a bad end to the season.

You have what it takes when it all clicks for you and your players.

Any fond memories of Wigan v Reading?

Beating you 3-1 at the then JJB Stadium in 2005 to win promotion to the Premier League. A once in a lifetime game for Wigan fans.

Any any not so fond ones?

Racking my brains there hasn't been an occasion you have done us an injustice, (other than maybe the play-off semi-final). Most games between us seem to be fairly close and friendly affairs the way football should be.

Who should we be worried about on Saturday?

Arouna Kone, this man has been fantastic since signing for us, he has scored four goals and then been our most influential attacking player. What he gives us is directness in our play, someone who will run at defenders and muscle them out the way to get at the goal.

Who are Wigan fans not looking forward to facing?

Personally Jobi McAnuff. I have always watched him and wondered why nobody has looked to bring him to the Premier League, he is such a talented player and can bring anyone into the game as well as score himself.

Score prediction?

It's going to be close and I am going to edge for Latics. Home support and we can get a 2-1 win.

Any tips for travelling Royals fans?

Enjoy yourselves and try a pie. You are in wigan after all!

Thanks again to Kieran and you can follow him on twitter @HeapyLatic