And according to Dutchman Nigel De Jong Wigan is the perfect venue to, metaphorically, start baring the teeth.
One point from two Premier League games has slowed down an otherwise excellent start and now DeJong is determined the pace should be picked up and the midweek momentum built upon.
“We know this game will not be easy. Wigan had some bad results at the start of the season but they have won at Spurs and look to be improving,” he declared.
“I know from last season that they are a tough side who will not make things easy for us and I know too that our record on the ground is not good. It is time to change that.
“We won well on Thursday away from home in Europe and we must produce that same level to find consistency in the Premier League.
“As a group we know we will improve further but we know too that we have to keep up with the leading sides in these early weeks when we are playing in three different competitions.
“We have been very good defensively in most matches and have conceded just two goals in seven games.
It is a great base for us. Now we have to be more clinical. We know we have the players to unlock any opposition
...Nigel De Jong
DeJong was particularly pleased to see his former Ajax colleague - and the man who this summer beat him to a World Cup winner’s medal - David Silva get off the mark on Thursday night in Austria.
“He is a special player; you only have to see him in training to know that. We all knew he would come good because he is so talented,” praised de Jong.
“David will get better with games and I have no doubt he will be a big player for us this season. His confidence will have been boosted by the goal on Thursday now as I said we must build on that win.”
