Wigan boss John Sheridan's verdict on burying Portsmouth's long unbeaten home record

And the Wigan boss backed his new club to have a successful season, as they picked up their first League One points of the campaign.

Sheridan saw the Latics put paid to Pompey’s 17 month, 22 game run without defeat at Fratton Park in the league.

He told wiganathletic.com: ‘It was a good performance; our first win of the season at a difficult place to come, because Portsmouth have a great record at home.

‘To come here and perform like we did and get the three points – which was the most important thing – is magnificent from the players.

‘It is still early days for me; I am just sitting back and watching a lot of what the staff are doing from last year when there were a lot of good things going on at the club. I am just a

different face, different voice and have just added one or two things with my experience.

‘The staff are outstanding; they work their socks off under the circumstances, full credit to them.

‘And the players deserve credit – more than anyone today – they have come to a difficult place and I have seen that we are getting better as a team, everyone is getting to know the system.

‘It is a togetherness and that is what we have to do – stick together – and I do believe that if we stick together and stay positive then we have half a chance of doing well in this league.

‘To get the first win, we know the importance of that and hopefully we can take it into the next game against Doncaster.’

Tom James’ thunderbolt free-kick stunned Pompey in the second half to make it 2-0, an effort Sheridan believes will go down as the goal of the season.

The Wigan manager was edgy as the Blues pushed for a leveller after Ellis Harrison’s goal, and feel his team did let Kenny Jackett’s side back into the game.

He added: ‘I don’t think you’ll see a better goal this season!

‘We shouted him to get back in his full back position because it looked as if he was too wide but he hasn’t half struck it well; I know he can do that because he’s got great ability for set plays and delivery.

‘If I had a bit of a down point it was that we allowed them to get a bit of belief and allowed them to come into the game in the second-half so they got the goal and you think "here

we go" but it was great for everyone involved.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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