Ahead of tomorrow's clash between Leeds and Wigan at Elland Road, I spoke to Tom Horn about all things Wigan Athletic.

Who is your favourite player to put on a Wigan shirt?

At the moment I'd say ex-Leeds Stephen Warnock. Even during the worst of team performances this season his personal performances have been excellent. His impact at Wigan has been so good that he's recently just been given the club captaincy role. We have a fairly young squad so the longer we stay down towards the bottom of the table, the more the experience of the likes of Warnock could be key.

It's also hard to ignore Will Grigg who's probably our first proven goalscorer for nearly a decade. His 28 goals last year were one of the main reasons we got back to the championship at the first attempt. It was strange to see how little game time he got at Euro 2016, especially as the "Will Grigg's on fire" chant was being sung by nearly everyone in France!

Historically though I'd say it has to be Emmerson Boyce, our FA Cup winning captain who left us in 2015. I'd be suprised if we have another player who plays for us for anywhere near as long as the 8 years Boyce did for us.

After one brief year in England's third tier, how does it feel to be back in the championship?

It's great to be back in a league where many of our supporters feel we now belong. When you look at some of the teams at this level now it feels like it's the premier league. We've already played teams like Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday, they'd probably both see themselves as premiership clubs. Adding to that the likes of Newcastle, Aston Villa, Derby and Leeds who are all massive clubs.

League 1 was different, there was a local derby for us nearly every week. From a supporters point of view it was great as away games were cheap (unlike what we're paying on Tuesday) and most games were very close to home. Strangely, our average away followings were far higher in League 1 than they were during our Premier League seasons. However as good as it was to see us winning most weeks, as a club it's important we're in the championship at least if we're going to remain in a good financial state.

Like our new boss Garry Monk, your gaffer Gary Caldwell is fairly new to the management scene, how do you think he's doing?

He's had a very hard job, when he took over we were on our way down from the championship, he had a complete overhaul of players in that summer and built a squad which won promotion at the first attempt. Many opposition managers and fans used to point out that we had significantly more money than everyone else in League 1 last season due to parachute payments, this is true but his biggest two investments have proved to be great decisions. Will Grigg and Yanic Wildschut made instant impacts and are showing signs of being able to produce at championship level too.

This year I think he's found it very difficult to adjust to this level. He brought in 13 players over the summer and we haven't yet seen any of them produce good perfomances consistently yet. He also sold Jason Pearce to Charlton, which a lot of supporters believe is a big reason why our defence has been so poor this season.

Unlike last season, our squad is very similar to others in the division. It's clear that at the moment Caldwell is struggling to find a system and balance to our team capable of getting results in the championship. His team selections at times are often very strange and we have seen lots of players playing out of position this season so Caldwell can continue to play the 3-5-2 system.

Can you name a memorable moment between the sides?

I'll go for Dave Whelan silencing the Leeds fans when he was making his resignation speech. "Leeds United have not won the FA Cup for twenty five years"

Much like Leeds, Wigan are too big a side to be out of England's top tier. Do you think the premier league misses teams such as ours?

It's hard to believe the amount of years a club of Leeds' size has been outside of the top division.

You'd like to think we'd both be back up there soon, but with the amount of money in the championship right now it's looking more and more unlikely that a club not receiving parachute payments will win promotion. I think it misses Leeds definitely, I'm sure you'd still be there if it wasn't for mismanagement.

Champions, runners up and play off teams this year?

1st Norwich
2nd Newcastle
3rd Brighton
4th Sheffield Wednesday
5th Bristol City
6th Derby

Who do you think will be relegated?

22nd Any of Barnsley, Burton, Wigan or Preston
23rd Blackburn
24th Rotherham

Predictions and scorers for Tuesday's game?

Leeds have picked up recently after a poor start but I think we'll managed to get our second away point of the season somehow. 1-1. Scorers Chris Wood for Leeds and Will Grigg for Wigan. We've looked a bit more solid defensively over the last couple of games so hopefully we can keep the likes of Hernandez quiet on Tuesday night.

We'd like to thank Tom for taking the time to do our interview and wish him and the Wigan fans the best for the season.

By Ryan Ingham

Like many fans after Saturdays defeat to Derby I was disappointed and wanted answers to why we didn't seem to show up at Pride Park for a large part of the first 60 minutes of the game.

Unlike a good proportion fans, I didn't take to twitter to rant at Leeds midfielder Alex Mowatt, who received a barrage of insults on social media after a lacklustre performance from the academy graduate.

Although I do think that if Mowatt is continued to be a first team player he needs to up his game, is it really his fault for his performances or are we missing something?

Mowatt was largely ineffective in the final third of the pitch because he was being used as a left winger, a position that doesn't suit him. He however did make some brilliant moves in the game only for the side to lose possession before taking any notice.

For a large part of the first 60 minutes our midfield was bossed around that Pride Park pitch and players like Mowatt and Wood were completely overlooked as we focussed on breaking away with the ball with the likes of Sacko and Hernandez. Is it Mowatt's fault he wasn't being given the service on the left?

Although Phillips and O'Kane became valuable assets when we started to take the game to Derby in the final third of the match, prior to that they just weren't closing down and supplying any good service to our attacking three.

The debate of where to play Mowatt has now been going on for the past two seasons with no-one really getting any leeway when it comes to arguing their point.

The fact of the matter is, if you're planning on playing Mowatt in your side then put him behind a striker and let him do his business. If not, you're wasting a spot.

Mowatt is too slow to feature as a winger, a position that both Steve Evans and Garry Monk have unsuccessfully tried to shoehorn him in to. His defensive abilities seem to have diminished over the past year, meaning that a usual spot in our central midfield would not be viable.

There's no doubt that Mowatt plays his best football when he is deployed as a number 10 and is allowed to roam free between midfield and attack. His awareness on the ball, passing and shooting abilities make him the ideal attacking midfielder and he has shown us countless times what he can do, we all remember Huddersfield.

I don't think it's a case of catering for Mowatt, it's a case of giving a fantastic player his chance in the side in a position that will actually allow him to shine.

The reality of the situation is that if we can't use a player in his naturals position and then blame him for his performances, then why is it the players fault?

When Hernandez was being used as a winger and was largely ineffective we leapt to his defence saying that it's not is fault it's the selection process, what's different for Mowatt, one of our own?

Mowatt only has about 10 months left on his contract at Leeds and although fresh talks are continuing, I'm afraid with the reaction of fans and the lack of game time in his natural position, we could lose another fantastic young talent who will go on to star in the Premier League.

Let's remember the young lad who came through our academy and has given us beautiful moments like away at Wolves. That's the lad we want to see on the pitch again and the only way we'll see it is if we give him the support he deserves.


By Ryan Ingham

Ahead of Saturday's clash with Championship strugglers Derby County, Keith Ingham spoke to friend and Derby fan Adrian, who is very vocal about his distaste for Leeds, especially in the workplace!

How long have you 'suffered' being a Derby County supporter?

As long as I can remember.  I wasn't given a team by my family.  Somewhere along the way I picked up Derby County. 

Favourite players since you started to follow them?
 
Perhaps Stefano Eranio.  He made the game look easy. 

Football has changed, some say for the worst since our teams have been in the top division. What has caused it in your opinion?

Change is constant.  We all have to live with it.  But there is far too much money in football and it should be shared more evenly through the football league.  The premier league is to blame. 

The 'Rams' and Leeds share quite a few links, probably the biggest being a certain Brian Clough. I know you're too young to remember him but do you consider him as one of the best managers ever?

One of the games greatest characters yes and one of the best managers without a doubt. But I do think you have to put Clough and Taylor together.  They didn't work apart. I don't think Clough could ever have been successful without Taylor.

You've just appointed Steve McClaren as manager, good or a bad appointment?

 I am a big fan.  But only time will tell.   He has a bit of making up to do with the fans.

Can you name a memorable game between the two teams, recent or past?

October 5th 2013. 3-1 Stevie Mac first game in charge of Derby and Derby's 10th successive win over Leeds. Just over 3 years on Stevie is back.

Champions, Runners up and six teams to be challenging for the Playoffs?

Champions.  Norwich
Runners up Newcastle
Playoff is between six teams;  Brighton, Derby, Leeds, Wednesday, Bristol City and Villa. 

Name three teams that you think will be relegated?

Forrest, Ipswich and Barnsley. 

 Why do you call us Dirty Leeds?

I don't know.  My dad told me to hate them

Prediction and Scorers for Saturday's game?

It will be a tight game.  Derby will win. Mac will get us scoring again.  3-1. Tom Ince will grab a brace. 

We'd like to thank Adrian for answering our questions and wish him the best of luck for the season. Derby along with Leeds are a team that deserves to be in the top flight of English football and have some fantastic fans. Let's hope to see a firecracker in tomorrow's game at Pride Park.