Paul Cook hails Wigan as they move five points clear at League One summit

Posted Sunday, January 21, 2018 by PA

Paul Cook praised his League One table-topping Wigan Athletic side as they extended their unbeaten run to 14 games in all competitions with a 3-1 comeback win at inform Plymouth.

Cook said: “We showed great discipline today after going a goal behind. (Plymouth boss) Derek (Adams) has got a very good side here and we did well to come away with the win.”

Graham Carey fired Plymouth – previously unbeaten in eight league games – ahead from a 27th-minute penalty.

Will Grigg levelled two minutes later before Graham Massey scored in first-half injurytime and Dan Burn made it 3-1 in the 69th minute with a powerful header.

Cook added: “It’s always good to win, but I don’t think Plymouth deserved to be on the losing side today.

“Once they scored the penalty I think we were fortuitous to get a goal back right away.

“Just before half-time we’ve obviously got the goal and then in the second half we were under pressure.

“Great credit to our lads, we had to dig in and defend for long periods today.

“Normally we eventually get control of games but we never had control of that game today and that’s great credit to Plymouth.

“We wanted to play well because we had 500 supporters coming down here today so we wanted to do well for them.

“Unfortunately Plymouth never allowed us to get that foothold in the game.

“They worked hard but today the bits of luck came off for us.

“We have got 19 league games, and all these teams are chasing us hard so we have got to make sure we stay focused.

“There’s a long way to go and today was a really tough game, Plymouth are the in-form team in the division so it was a severe test for us so we are really pleased to come away with the three points.”

Argyle manager Adams: “I thought it was a good game, a lot of good football between two very good sides.

“I thought we started the game very well, grew into it and scored off the penalty kick. That gave us the start that we probably deserved.

“We caused them trouble, especially down the right-hand side and got the penalty.

“Then quickly after that we gave away a really poor goal.

“It gets played in with the outside of his foot, and goes through a lot of bodies and ends up in the goal.

“For them to score so quickly – after our goal – was hard to take.

“Then in stoppage-time in the first half they scored again and what Wigan are very good at is finding the next pass, and the next pass and the next pass. They did that and they scored.

“It was difficult to get back into the game after that but I thought – over the 90 minutes – it was a very good performance.

“I spoke to Paul Cook after the game and he said it was one of their sternest tests. That was very complimentary from the manager of the team at the top of the league.”