Super Latics have lift-off!

GREAT START . . . Ryan Flynn wheels away after opening the scoring Latics last night at SportsDirect.com Park

ATHLETIC manager Stephen Robinson hailed the early fruits of his labour as Wigan were dumped out of the EFL Cup last night.

The Sky Bet Championship club won the League One title last season but succumbed to goals from Ryan Flynn and Josh Law, either side of a leveller by Will Grigg.

Wigan had Jake Buxton sent off for a foul on Marc Klok late in the first half and the result for Athletic left Robinson pondering on the sort of club hewould ideally want to be paired with in tonight's draw,

"Financially, somebody big would be nice - but we want to keep progressing," said Robinson.

"For the club it is massive and we are not a club with an abundance of money.

"It gives us a little boost.

"More to the point, it emphasises what we are trying to do with the boys. If you keep on it in training but don't see success, then there can be doubts.

"We have a really good bunch here who have bought in to what we are trying to do.

"But we are right at the start and I am not going to get carried away."

Having made three changes to the side he put out at The Den, Robinson - who will welcome back Jamie Reckord (concussion) and Billy Mckay (ineligible) for the visit of Walsall on Saturday - knows he has a job on to pick the next XI.

"Lee Croft is a wily character and he came on to give us a bit more hold of the game," Robinson said, in reference to his substitutions last night.

"It was a hard game for Kallum (Mantack) against probably their two best players on that side of the pitch and Crofty just gives you that bit of experience.

"Ollie Banks did well too and that's what we need.

"We have added two players in Ryan McLaughlin and hopefully another Premier League striker by Saturday.

"It gives me a little bit of a selection headache - but that's a better position to be in than four weeks ago, I can assure you."

The draw for round two of the EFL Cup will be made at around 10pm tonight, after the conclusion of Aston Villa's game at Luton Town.

Athletic will be joined in the pot by those Premier League sides not active in Europe this season.

Thirteen top-flight clubs will be seeded, as will Championship sides Newcastle and Norwich plus 10 other first-round winners.

Liverpool have been handed dispensation to play away from home in round two even if they area drawn at home, due to redevelopment work being carried out at Anfield.

ATHLETIC'S reserves are in action tonight against Everton in the final of the Lancashire FA Senior Cup.

The game is at the County Ground in Leyland and kicks off at 7.30pm.

Tickets are priced at £8 adults and £4 concessions.