Paul Cook happy with a point from Stoke stalemate

Posted Thursday, February 14, 2019 by PA

Wigan manager Paul Cook was happy enough with a point from a Sky Bet Championship stalemate with Stoke at the DW Stadium.

The home side extended their unbeaten run to three games with the 0-0 draw but lacked the necessary spark in the final third to push for the win.

Stoke arguably had the better of the chances, although the closest they came was in the first half when Joe Allen’s shot took a deflection off Cedric Kipre and hit the outside of the post.

“It was a tough game, for both teams, and I thought a draw was a fair result,” said Cook.

“There were spells in the game when both teams tried to gain control, without either really managing to do that.

“Stoke certainly carry a threat, with the calibre of player they have, it’s evident for all to see.

“The game was just lacking that moment of magic from either team that would have won it.

“But all in all we’ll take the point, every point in this league is gold.

“We’ve put ourselves in a position now where we can achieve what we wanted to at the start of the season.”

The major plus for Wigan was the return of Nick Powell off the bench after almost three months out with hamstring and calf problems.

“Any team in the division, to have a player like Nick Powell out for 11 weeks, they would suffer,” added Cook.

“He’s such a talented player, and it’s invaluable to have him back for the last 14-15 matches.

“It’s the same with Gavin Massey, Michael Jacobs, all the lads who have been out at times this season.

“The pleasing thing now is we have selection problems, and they’re great problems for me to have as a manager.”

For Stoke boss Nathan Jones, it was a mixture of being happy with a point tinged with a slight disappointment it was not all three.

“On a normal day we’d be very, very frustrated we haven’t won the game,” he said.

“But we’re pleased with an away clean sheet, and an away point – that’s the positives for us.

“I thought we had enough chances – and clear-cut chances at that – to have won the game.

“But we are building, and we are a work in progress.

“I don’t want to keep saying that, because that’s going to get boring eventually.

“But in terms of setting down foundations, it’s a start.

“Of course I’d like to have more points on the board, but we’ll take a point.”

Jones also revealed Tom Edwards will be checked out after having to quit the action with eight minutes remaining of the first half after a clash with Leon Clarke.

“Tom’s fine – he took an elbow and we didn’t want to take any chances with him,” added Jones.

“We had an able replacement on the bench, and there was no sense in taking any chances.”