Cook can see Latics have right ingredients
PAUL COOK says his Wigan side delivered the type of performance needed to stay in the Championship.
Cook said he feared the worst when the home side opened the scoring midway through the first half but the Latics recovered to earn only their sixth point on the road courtesy of Josh Windass’ fifth goal of the season.
“When Rotherham scored I thought there was only going to be one result,” said Cook.
“They were excellent in the first half and we scored against the run of play.
“We were fortunate at half-time to still be in the game but we were much better in the second half.
“Credit to the lads, they had to dig in and they stood up to the challenge. I have always said I don’t care where the points come from but that seven-point lead over the relegation places right now is a healthy lead.”
The Latics suffered a setback on 25 minutes when they lost centre-half Danny Fox to a head injury.
Matters got worse for the visitors just three minutes later when Clark Robertson headed Rotherham in front from Will Vaulks’ cross.
However, the lead didn’t last long and Windass secured a point on 31 minutes when he fired home low and hard past Marek Rodak after finding himself in space on the right.
Michael Smith missed a golden chance for the home side before half-time, firing over from six yards, while a penalty appeal for a pull on Richard Wood that wasn’t given infuriated Millers boss Paul Warne.
He said: “I am waiting to speak to the referee to ask him how an Earth that wasn’t a penalty.
“Woody is not a diver, as everyone knows, and he gives the decision against him, for what? Putting his shirt in the other player’s hand?
“The lads have given me everything, so I cannot complain but you have to take your chances at this level and while it’s great to be outside the relegation zone in February, three points would have been great for us here.”
The point leaves the Millers in 21st place in the table.