KOMPANY EXPECTING TOUGH TEST FROM LATICS

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Burnley boss looks ahead to this weekend's meeting with Wigan

2023-03-09T17:00:00.000Z

KOMPANY EXPECTING TOUGH TEST FROM LATICS

Burnley boss looks ahead to this weekend's meeting with Wigan

2023-03-09T17:00:00.000Z

Burnley boss looks ahead to this weekend's meeting with Wigan

Manager Vincent Kompany is relishing the return of Turf Moor this weekend as the Clarets host Wigan Athletic but insists despite the difference in league positions it will be a challenging afternoon.

Wigan are now managed by former Tics midfielder and Belgium coach Shaun Maloney, after replacing Kompany's former teammate Kolo Touré as boss in January.

Despite the Latics currently sitting bottom of the Sky Bet Championship table joint on points with Huddersfield Town and Blackpool, Kompany admits his team must be '100% focussed' and not allow any lapses in concentration.

Speaking on Thursday to the media, Kompany said: "These type of fixtures are very difficult, you have one team fighting at one end of the table and one at the other end.

"It showed last weekend at Blackpool, it can be difficult for us and it will be again this weekend against Wigan.

"When you play teams fighting for promotion and then play teams fighting relegation, there is no difference at all in this game to playing someone that are in the playoff places.

"Wigan are a good side, they have an ability to score goals. They are staying in games and only losing by a narrow margin when they have lost, they aren't conceding a lot of goals."

KOMPANY EXPECTING TOUGH TEST FROM LATICS - Image 1

Kompany added: "We will have to be fully focussed and cannot allow any lapses in concentration, if anything our performances have to increase as the season goes on, the bar is high here.

"But we are back at home at Turf Moor in front of our fans and we have to use that to our advantage once again."

When the Clarets last faced Wigan back in August, Kompany's men were convincing 5-1 winners at the DW Stadium.

Reflecting back on that afternoon, Kompany believes that impressive victory kickstarted this season into gear and showed what the side were capable of.

"It was one of the benchmark games for us this season, it was off the back of a difficult spell off the back of a four match winless run.

"But it kickstarted what we have shown this season I think and what this team were capable of. Goals, energy and a strong team performance."