The Latics lost 3-0 in their last pre-season friendly at home to Championship Preston North End – it was the first pre-season defeat for Frankie Bunn.
Bunn commented, “I’ve got some devastated players in the changing room and that’s the right thing. We’re learning about them, they’re learning about us and no-one likes losing. But there were so many positives in that first-half performance. The foundations are there and the first half reflected everything that we are going to be. Maybe we need that bit of gold dust and guile in the attacking third.”