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Wigan are back in The Championship after a season swanning around with yer Scunthorpes and Sheffield Uniteds of the world in Division 1. Billy Grant caught up with Tony Brown from Wigan blog Los Three Amigos (@Los3AmigosWigan) to get lowdown on the Latics’s season so far.

Welcome back to the Championship. How was your little party down in Division One?

Tough at the beginning, but the squad had been almost completely overhauled. The players who had been part of the relegation team were quickly dispatched. The new players brought in did not know each other and had to adapt to Caldwell’s style of play, based on building up from the back, retaining possession.

For some months the players hardly gelled, but in the end the quality of the squad was to shine through. The Latics bench was the envy of the other managers. Recruitment had been a weak point in the past, but last season it was spot on. The critics had said you can’t get out of League 1 playing stylish football.

Caldwell proved them wrong.

Your return to the Championship has been rather tough – losing to the likes of Preston, Norwich, Wednesday, QPR, Forest, Blackburn and Bristol City. You have had a couple of wins against Blackburn and Wolves. Are you a bit worried at this early stage?

Last season we knew it would take some time for the players to gel into a functioning unit. So many had been brought in. In May Caldwell had said he was looking at bringing in 4-5 new faces for the coming season. He clearly changed his mind, having brought in 14, around half of whom were signed after the season started.

The result has been an indifferent start, worse than last year, not surprising given the tougher opposition. Moreover injuries have been horrendous, with four players out long-term plus others disrupting the rhythm. The games at Bristol and Nottingham were lost in time added-on. The other losses have involved a single goal difference.

Defence has been a problem. Last season’s central defensive pairing of Craig Morgan and Jason Pearce was impressive. Latics lost only one match when they were in the starting lineup. Pearce has since gone to Charlton and Morgan is either injured or out of favour.

The lack of continuity in defence has been a problem, as the new players brought in have not shown the cohesion that Morgan and Pearce showed last season. Moreover a midfield lacking last season’s player of the year, David Perkins, has not provided the level of protection to the defence one would expect.

But Burton and Barnsley seem to be doing OK .. what’s the difference between Wigan and those guys?

The number of quality players in the squads.

Burton are a well-run club and they have done well to reach the Championship. They will do well to stay up. Barnsley were rock bottom around Christmas last year. Their rise has been meteoric. They are a footballing side, with the adrenaline still flowing from their successes. Their challenge will be to keep up their momentum.

The difference is that Latics have a potentially stronger squad, with players who can make a difference once they settle in together.

You had the biggest budget in The Championship last season and you managed to bounce straight back. You must have some quality in your side. 

There is genuine quality there. Will Grigg’s signing was possibly the key to promotion last season. He has already scored five goals this season and looks comfortable in the Championship. Max Power is a classy young central midfielder, signed from Tranmere. Dutchman, Yanic Wildschut is a right-footed left winger with awesome pace and a powerful shot.

Cup final winner Jordi Gomez has already impressed on his return and ranks among the best attacking midfield players in the division. Nick Powell showed us a couple of years ago that he has enormous talent. He has had two seasons of minimal game time, but is getting back to being fit and sharp. On his day he is a class act and still only 22 years old.

There is lots of quality in the squad. It is a mixture of experienced senior pros and talented younger players. The question is when they will come together as a cohesive unit. These are early days still.

Brentford had a bit of a so-so season last year (even though we finished 9th). Early indications are we are a much better team all around this season – with a solid defence and scoring goals for fun (at the moment). How will Wigan approach this match do you think?

Whether they play against a high-flying team or one lower in the division seems to make little difference. We have seen nothing so far that is overwhelming.

This season needs to be one of consolidation. Results are likely to be unpredictable. When the new players are bedded-in, Latics will most likely beat a top team one week, only to lose against a lower team the next.

Whatever the result on Saturday, you will probably see a very different Latics in the return match in January. This is a team in transition, with injuries not helping.

Give us your score prediction …

With no major defensive errors or bad refereeing decisions at least a draw. I’m going for 1-1. At best, an away win.

But, given the experiences so far this season, is this likely to happen?

Billy Grant
@BillyTheBee99

PUBS IN BRENTFORD

For Wigan fans coming down, you are probably aware there plenty of pub options pre-match and all are most welcoming.

There are now only three pubs around the ground, following the closure of the Royal Oak.

The Griffin is closest to the away end (like 30 secs walk) and is very popular with away fans – but also very, very busy. The New Inn is on the other side and is also popular with away fans. The Princess Royal is the other option.

Other pubs slightly further afield for the more creative amongst you include (and this is by no means a definitive list) …. The Globe (Windmill Rd) is the Beesotted pre-match pub. This boozer & The Lord Nelson (Enfield Rd) are both incredibly friendly and cosy away-friendly pubs and about 1 min walk from each other .. frequented by ‘away fans in the know’.

The Plough (Northfields Ave) in Northfields is a decent stop-off if you are coming by tube to Northfields (it’s a much better pub crawl route getting off at Northfields than South Ealing) before making your way down to the ground (normally stopping off at The Globe and Lord Nelson en route).

There is also a pub right by Brentford station always referred to as … the Pub by Brentford station.

For ale head to the Magpie and Crown pub on Brentford High Street. The Royal Horseguardsman can probably hold 15 of you at a push. The Brewery Tap is a cosy boozer by the river. And if you are super adventurous, get off at Kew Bridge and visit the brand new boozer One Over the Ait right on the river – beside the bridge. There are loads more too.

A quick Google search and you’ll find them all. There are many many more too if you have a look around.

Parking is pretty easy away from the ground going up towards and over the A4 Great West Rd (ie. North) via Ealing Road or Windmill Road.

You can check out Transport for London’s guide to travel on the tube and Overground here.