Maloney understanding of Wigan fan discontent

Wigan Athletic boss Shaun Maloney has said he understands fan discontent over their position in League One.

The Latics are 19th and just a point above the relegation places having lost their past two league games. They take on rivals Bolton Wanderers on Saturday with their opponents currently on a five-game unbeaten run.

Maloney issued an apology to fans this week after he had headed straight down the tunnel following their League One defeat to Leyton Orient last Saturday, instead of clapping the home support at the Brick Community Stadium.

His side were also eliminated from the Vertu Trophy this week, losing 3-2 at League Two Chesterfield in front of 1,583, with 237 having made the journey from Wigan.

"I don't ask them [the fans] for anything," Maloney said. "In the Vertu Trophy, there might be 1,000 people there. I don't complain, I don't ask about the people that didn't come. It's all about the people that do.

"I never want them to give any more money than they already do.

"It's my job to try and give them as many victories. If it doesn't happen, I've got no problem with them being really unhappy with me, that's my job.

"I appreciate their support. I'm trying desperately hard to get more wins. But when we don't then of course then I've got no problem with them being angry and frustrated."

Wigan have an impressive record against Bolton having gone unbeaten against their local rivals in eight games stretching back almost a decade.

Maloney oversaw a stunning 4-0 win away from home at the beginning of last season with a further 1-0 win in February, which dented Bolton's automatic promotion campaign.

"If you look at our game against Bolton last year when we won 4-0 it was definitely a game where we both had chances but we took every one we had, and that's how clinical we must be from now until the end of the season," Maloney added.

"I'd say players were the difference for us last season and I'm pretty sure they will be the difference this season as well."