Sky Bet Championship: Uwe Rosler demands 'intensity and consistency' from Wigan

Under-performing Wigan have been told to play like it's "life or death" by boss Uwe Rosler.

Latics were believed to be one of the frontrunners for automatic promotion, based mainly on their improvement under Rosler in the second half of last season and their talented squad.

However, still without an away win since April, they have won just two of their eight fixtures so far with Monday night's home loss to Ipswich the latest low note of a disappointing campaign to date.

And, ahead of Saturday's trip to Bournemouth, Rosler has issued a rallying cry in a bid to reverse his side's fortunes.

"The longer you're not winning, the more nervous you get," Rosler admitted.

"I thought we only started to play against Ipswich when the game was more or less lost. That is a typical reaction of a team that is not on their level - mentally or confidence-wise.

"When things are getting tough, we have to stand up and be counted. We have to find the character we have in the squad and bring that to every single game.

"We have nothing more to throw away or give away - we have to play football as if it's life or death.

"At the moment we're not playing with that sort of intensity or consistency, and if we are to achieve something this season we have to realise that is the way we have to be.

"We all care about the situation, but we have to care even more about this.

"It's just not acceptable that we only have eight points at this stage of the season. The only way we can change that is by winning football matches."

Rosler believes the club's injury-hit pre-season preparations have contributed to their disappointing start, while the team are adjusting to the four new signings that arrived on deadline day.

William Kvist and Andy Delort both came to the DW Stadium from abroad and Adam Forshaw is still working his way back to full fitness following ankle surgery over the summer.

"Everything started from the disrupted pre-season, and getting some of the players back late for the training," argued Rosler.

"But other clubs were in that situation as well and we have to show strength of character - starting from the top.

"We have to turn it around, and we will turn it round. But to do that we need everyone fighting against that and not giving in."