The Observer:
The premiership is only three months old and Paul Jewell has just won his second Manager of the Month award, another surprising achievement to sit alongside Wigan being Chelsea's nearest challengers, having more points than Manchester United did at this stage the last time they won the title, or enjoying the longest winning run in Europe.
As chippy as they come, Jewell is currently welcoming deserved plaudits while keeping a weather eye open for patronising comments or unintentional slights. Sky's Richard Keyes suggested Chelsea's lead had been cut to 10 points at Old Trafford last Sunday, apparently forgetting in the excitement of United winning a game that Wigan were only six points behind the leaders.
Jewell was on to that in a flash, yet he remains modest enough to acknowledge that Wigan owe a lot to luck and Manchester United. 'We lost our first two games of the season,' he explained. 'We played very well against Chelsea, but I was concerned at Charlton. We looked as if we expected to lose, and I was worried a third defeat in a row would destroy our confidence.
'Our next game was supposed to be Manchester United away on the Wednesday, but that had to be postponed because they had a Champions League qualifier. We got a week off then played Sunderland at home and that's where our season started. When we go to United next month we'll go with confidence. To have gone as a newly promoted team with no points after two matches would have been a big ask.'