Goalkeeper determined to bounce back after his mistake on Wednesday night.

Jamie Jones | “I can only apologise to the fans, my team mates and everyone at the club.”
Goalkeeper says he will learn from Wednesday and is determined to bounce back against Huddersfield Town
Jones spoke to the club’s official programme, with the full interview inside Saturday’s edition

Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Jamie Jones has apologised to the club’s supporters, his teammates and everyone at the club after his mistake on Wednesday night led to West Bromwich Albion equalising at the DW Stadium.

Jones was speaking to the club’s official matchday programme and he said he is determined to bounce back and learn from his mistake in the clash with the Baggies.

“It’s a difficult moment for me and for the supporters,” Jones said. “For that I can only apologise to the fans, my team mates and everyone at the club.

“The most important thing is to learn from moments like that. I’ve got to hold my hands up because from the standards I demand of myself, I know I have to be better in a situation like that.

“I’m as disappointed as everyone will have been in the stadium, but the lads rallied round me and we pulled off a good result and an excellent performance on the night.

“With a mistake like the one on Wednesday, it’s about how I bounce back from it and hopefully I’ll get the chance to do that and show what I can provide for the team.”

Wednesday night’s clash was Jones’ second league appearance of the season as he deputised for David Marshall, who picked up an injury prior to Latics’ trip to Luton Town last weekend.

And Jones says he is desperate to continue to prove himself with hard work behind the scenes, having deputised to a high standard on a number of occasions for Latics since his joined the club in the summer of 2017.

“We work hard in training every day with Nick Colgan [Goalkeeping Coach],” Jones said. “You’ve got to be ready to take your chance because you never know when it’s going to come.

“My chance came at Luton due to an injury to Marshy. It’s not nice seeing your mate injure himself, but it gave me an opportunity and I just have to do my job.

“You take things that you see happening from the side line into the game, whether that’s your game management or turning the negative experiences into something useful.

“I got the nod last season after a good cup game against West Brom.

“I’m always probing to prove myself to be the number one goalkeeper. Last year it came through performances in training and on the pitch, this season it’s come through an injury. You just have to be ready, it’s the same for everyone in the squad.

“If you’re not playing, you’ve just got to train hard, put the energy into sessions and show how keen you are to play.

“When the chance comes, you’ve got to take it. It’s the same right the way through the divisions.”

Jones has played 36 times for Latics and was rewarded with a new two-year contract in the summer.

He says the goalkeeping group he works with at Latics is strong, with coach Colgan coming in for particular praise.

“It’s always important to have a good relationship with your goalkeeping coach,” Jones continued. “I’ve been at other clubs where it hasn’t been enjoyable, which makes it hard, but with Nick, he’s outstanding.

“We all get on so well. The bond between us as goalkeepers is really strong.

“There hasn’t been a single day when I’ve dreaded coming into work to train. It’s always enjoyable and it makes you want to learn and get better every day.

“Nick’s been the best goalkeeping coach I’ve ever had. He’s been outstanding for me and for all of the other goalkeepers during my time here.

“He’s pushed Owen Evans on by helping him to get game time in the EFL at Macclesfield. That’s what everyone needs, that encouragement to get the best out of themselves.

“It’s credit to Nick and all of the other staff to give Owen the time to do that. You learn a lot from experiences like that, so it’s really good for him.”

Jones plays a key role off the pitch for Latics as a senior member of the dressing room and his support for young goalkeepers Evans and Gyollai is invaluable.

“I’m 30-years-old now, so I’ve learned throughout my career how to manage emotions and how to be,” Jones explained. “There’s no point being all doom and gloom if you’re not playing.

“I’ve been lucky enough to play more than 300 games now, so I haven’t sat in the stands too much.

“The main thing is to work hard and if you get the nod, you’ve got to trust in the manager’s decision and give him reason to trust in you.”

Jamie Jones | “I can only apologise to the fans, my team mates and everyone at the club.”