Kevin Kilbane is hopeful Wigan can secure Premier League safety at Aston Villa this weekend.
Midfielder hopes to secure status at Villa
Kevin Kilbane is hopeful Wigan can secure Premier League safety in their penultimate game of the season at Aston Villa this weekend.
The Latics, who sit 14th in the table, travel to Villa Park on Saturday well aware that three points against Martin O'Neill's European hopefuls will ensure they will be playing top-flight football next term.
Wigan host Manchester United, who are likely to require a victory to secure the league title, on the final day of the season and Republic of Ireland midfielder Kilbane is keen to have guaranteed survival before the visit of the Red Devils.
"You are looking over your shoulder," Kilbane told
Sky Sports News.
Slip up
"You are seeing the other fixtures that teams have. Where they might slip up, where they might pick up points.
"But it is in our hands and that is what we have to be thankful for. We have just got to go and do our own job.
"Hopefully we will get the points this weekend to get us safe."
Meanwhile, Kilbane insists he never considered leaving Wigan, despite speculation that he was set to quit the JJB Stadium when Steve Bruce returned for his second managerial spell at the club in November 2007.
Rumours
"To be honest, I felt comfortable all season," Kilbane added. "So I didn't see anything about me moving.
"Earlier on in the season there were rumours about a lot of players leaving and going to different clubs.
"But I didn't feel there would be a time coming when I would be moving on at some stage in the season."
