Assistant manager heaps praise on squad character after 4-3 win at Burton Albion.

Leam Richardson | “I’m absolutely made up for the players”
Assistant manager heaps praise on squad character after 4-3 win at Burton Albion.
Richardson: “Kyle [Joseph] will remember tonight forever.”

Wigan Athletic assistant manager Leam Richardson waxed lyrical about Latics’ character as they came from behind on three occasions to defeat Burton Albion 4-3 at the Pirelli Stadium on Tuesday night.

Richardson watched on as Kyle Joseph’s hat-trick brought Latics level on three occasions before Will Keane headed home a late winner.

Reflecting post-match on Latics TV, Richardson said:

“Absolutely made up for the players, the effort, the determination, the character to come back not once but three times.

“We’re built in a certain way where we feel we can score goals. They did put us under pressure in other ways but we stood up to the task and thankfully tonight we came out on top.

“The character is outstanding; I’ve said it before but the four goals we scored are probably the quality to go in at any level. I commend the players for that, they take on the information but full credit to Burton because they didn’t leave a breath on the pitch. It was a game where two teams went at it and again there wasn’t a breath left out there so whether there deserved to be a winner or not - I’m not sure - but thankfully we came out on top.”

The only thing missing was a couple of thousand Latics fans celebrating the winner behind the goal at the Pirelli Stadium and Richardson added that the lack of supporters was again the only disappointment on a special evening.

“It was great to watch in some parts and the only thing that was missing was 4,000 fans behind the goal celebrating Will Keane’s winner because it would have been electric,” he explained. “Kyle Joseph’s Mum and Dad as well with his three goals.

“We’ve had an indifferent year, an educational year but we’re still digging in and being as honest as we can so when the fans hopefully return we can give them something to celebrate and cheer so fingers crossed.”

On Joseph, Richardson said the Scotland U19 international will be pinching himself after his first career hat-trick.

“He’ll be pinching himself,” he said. “I said months ago someone’s misery will be somebody else’s opportunity and he has certainly taken that.

“Kyle has a lot of learning to do on the football pitch to be a football player to take on board what it takes and he’s certainly taking those small steps and tonight goes a long way in his career. He will remember that forever.

“I try and take all the pressure off the players. We started with our front three of Kyle Joseph, Thelo Aasgaard and Ollie Crankshaw so you know you’re going to come to a place and sometimes it’s a flip of the coin because the young lads are learning and I try and take the pressure off them and let them play with freedom and express themselves but every player on the pitch from Jamie Jones and Curtis Tilt didn’t leave a breath out there. The harder you work the luckier you get and thankfully we got the result.”

Leam Richardson | “I’m absolutely made up for the players”