Latics TV | Paul Cook's Blackburn Rovers preview.
The gaffer looks ahead to Latics' return to the DW Stadium against Blackburn.
Cook on: contracts, team news and Tony Mowbray's side.

Speaking on Latics TV on Thursday afternoon, Latics boss Paul Cook previewed his side's return home on Saturday, when Blackburn Rovers visit the DW Stadium for the second fixture of the restart of the Sky Bet Championship season.

Starting by addressing the news of players' contract situations, Cook said:

"I'm delighted. The squad here has been excellent for a long period of time now.

"Before the transfer window in January things were a bit iffy with lads coming towards the end of their contracts and as a manager that harmony in the dressing room is vital.

"The senior players here, Anthony Pilkington, Danny Fox, Joe Garner, Gary Roberts, those type of lads have been excellent at the club. Getting those who've re-signed to do so will play a massive part in the harmony of the squad for the remaining eight games.

"Leading up to the talks I said, "if you're not going to be committed, then don't sign", that's the brutal truth."

Latics made a triumphant return to action last Saturday with a 2-0 win at Huddersfield Town, but Cook continued by saying his players are fully focussed on how to approach the rest of the campaign.

"The league looks good for us at the moment following the win at Huddersfield, but if you lose a couple of games, I guarantee you the league will not look as good.

"We're not out of the woods by a long stretch of the imagination, but having committed players is absolutely paramount. Having players who aren't committed isn't good for anyone, so I'm delighted with all of the lads who have re-signed.

"Leon Balogun is fit now. We've also got Gary Roberts who felt something in his calf and Gavin Massey who is in the real late stages of coming back.

"The reality going into the Blackburn game and going into a tough week is that we've got a good squad, strong people to pick from and they're all champing at the bit, which is great for me.

On the environment expected at the DW on Saturday, Cook added:

"It is a strange environment on a match day, there is no other word for it. It's eerie, it's different, there are a million adjectives you can use to describe it, it's nothing like league football.

"That's from the minute you get out of the car, it just feels vacant. When the game comes everyone is looking for intensity and pressure, but it's so hard to create in games.

"We've got a massive derby match with Blackburn on Saturday. It's been blood and thunder in all of our games with Blackburn because the fans from both teams bring the excitement. We don't know what these games are going to bring.

You look around the division with teams who've played with intensity and fed off crowds, it's something we're not seeing in any of the games."

On Blackburn, Cook said:

"We know Blackburn quite well now. The two teams have travelled a little journey together, albeit Blackburn's has moved on from when we pipped them to the title in League One. Blackburn have kicked on and are at the other end of the table where we'd like to be and that's great credit to Tony Mowbray, his staff and his players.

"For us it's a different challenge, we need the points to ensure our safety and I'm sure it will be a really competitive game, as they always are with Blackburn."

Fans From Home cut outs will be watching on in the East Stand on Saturday and for the remainder of the campaign, with Cook joking:

"All of a sudden the faces of people who are usually shouting at me won't be as vocal. Maybe they've all have little catch phrases next to them?

"In all seriousness, we respect all of our supporters. Football for managers now is such a changing game. We'll miss our supporters badly on Saturday because we enjoy playing at the DW and they love our club just as much as any other supporters."

Preview | Paul Cook looks ahead to Latics' 'homecoming' against Blackburn Rovers