Promotion is Paul Cook’s wish for Leeds United after watching his Wigan Athletic team withstand immense pressure to take three points home on Saturday.
Relegation-threatened Latics were beaten in just about every statistic by the hosts save for the one which matters most.
Two of Wigan’s three away wins since last April have been at Elland Road and the trend, against the odds, is not lost on Cook.
“I would really like to wish Leeds well. They’re a fantastic club. Like every big club I really hope it goes well for the supporters because these fans are such strong supporters,” he said.
“They deserve the success and I really hope that success comes this year for them.”
Joe Williams is claiming the winning goal, which looped into the net from his corner kick and over Kiko Casilla.
It was one of the few chances Wigan had in a match they were forced to spend long durations defending.
“You know you’re going to come under pressure here. We couldn’t leave gaps in our back four like we have been leaving in our pursuit of being an open, expansive team,” said Cook.
“If we’d have come here today and been open and expansive we’d have lost heavily because Leeds punish you if you leave gaps.
“It was important we fill them gaps and the lads that fill the gaps actually fill them with great credit because once you fill them you’ve still got to defend and handle the movement of really good players and that’s what Leeds have got.”
He added: “Fortunately for us, today we felt we know where Leeds want to hurt you, by watching teams and being in the crowd now and again here.
“You know where they’re trying to hurt you, you know where they want to penetrate. It was important we fill them holes.
“We done that really, really well today. All the lads in there were committed. We had to defend at times, which you have to do here.
“Any moment that come our way, and we had one or two moments, you must take them chances to get anything here.”
