Manager feels his side unfortunate not to win at The Den.

Paul Cook | “It is a small step and we can move on from here”
Manager pleased with Latics’ efforts but equally felt his side could have got all three points at Millwall
Paul Cook: “That’s a big morale boost for us, our dressing room is in a good place and small steps are needed – that was a small step for us.”

Latics manager Paul Cook was pleased with his side’s reaction as they drew 2-2 at Millwall on Tuesday night, ending their recent run of defeats.

Cook watched on as his side twice led through Anthony Pilkington and Antonee Robinson, only to be pegged back twice by Gary Rowett’s Lions.

However, on reflection Latics were unlucky to not get all three points with the chances they created.

“I thought we played well,” Cook said. “I was delighted with the reaction; you can only imagine the dressing room after the game at Stoke and I think for the supporters who travelled the pain they get is hard to speak about because it is so tough.

“The lads have had a flat couple of days but I wanted it to go flat because the reality is that it must really sink in to hurt properly.

“We wanted a response tonight and we had a few fans travel down – great credit to them, we have some London fans, but for anyone who has travelled from Wigan I take my hat off to you and I thank you deeply.

“The lads played well tonight, showed great character and the lads that come in did well. Pilkington’s goal was magnificent, a fantastic quality strike, Josh Windass was back in the squad and Dujon did great.

“In general – apart from the Brentford game – I find it hard to criticise the level of performance. These lads have had disappointment after disappointment and it is hard with some of them who are a lot younger, they needed that tonight because when the board went up for stoppage time I am sure there a lot of fans – like me – who found it a bit painful.

“I am delighted with the point, it is a small step and obviously we can move on from here.”

Latics started with two strikers at the Den as Joe Garner and Kieffer Moore battled from the off for Cook’s side.

And the manager was pleased with the way the duo linked up and helped to create two excellent goals.

“Millwall is a tough place to come and impose yourself on a game in certain styles of play and I felt tonight we needed to have a physically strong team on the pitch,” Cook explained. “The front two haven’t played together but they’re good players and they’re both intelligent lads; the first goal was quality and I was delighted with the attitude.

“We have to score goals from them areas; our full backs have the licence to go forwards and score goals; people speak about your strikers scoring but when you’re an offensive team with full backs playing like they do in the modern day game then you have to score goals and get assists. The big thing for us all is to step up and I am glad for Jedi because he is a good kid, he really is.

“That’s a big morale boost for us, our dressing room is in a good place and small steps are needed – that was a small step for us

Paul Cook | “It is a small step and we can move on from here”