Assistant manager pleased with the efforts of young squad as Latics earn point against Bristol Rovers

Richardson: “On tonight’s performance, I think everyone – including the club staff – deserve credit for that because behind the scenes everyone is working tirelessly hard to keep going and for this football club to be a good platform for a takeover to build from.”

Wigan Athletic’s assistant manager Leam Richardson praised the efforts of Latics’ players as they battled to a goalless draw with Bristol Rovers at the DW Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Taking charge of the side along with Gregor Rioch, Frankie Bunn and Peter Murphy, Richardson said the effort and commitment of Latics’ squad, which included 12 academy graduates, deserves praise.

“I have to compliment the lads for the effort, the hard work and the endeavour,” Richardson explained. “I thought they thoroughly deserved the result and I think Jamie Jones deserved the clean sheet on his own from Saturday’s performance, when I thought he was excellent.

“It is a tough industry, a tough league and the young lads have got a really tough task and I think everyone needs to understand that.

“We are trying to work tirelessly on the training ground and they are taking information in every single day. The schedule is coming thick and fast but they’re giving their all and that’s all they can do – give their best and try and represent Wigan Athletic as best they can.”

And Richardson added that tonight was a collective effort from everyone at the club who continues to endeavour to keep the club operating in challenging times.

“On tonight’s performance, I think everyone – including the club staff – deserve credit for that because behind the scenes everyone is working tirelessly hard to keep going and for this football club to be a good platform for a takeover to build from.

“You get more luck with the harder you work in this game and I have been brought up in a way that if you’re not going to win then make sure you don’t lose and I never felt we were going to lose the game.

“I felt we ran out of our impetus and energy – as young lads do – on around 70 minutes so it was our job to make sure we were hard to beat and I thought we were for the last 15 or 20 minutes.

“I have to repeat my praise for the hard work and endeavour from them because they’re representing Wigan Athletic every single day in a tough league.”

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Leam Richardson | "I've got to credit the hard work and endeavour."