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Wigan’s weekend defeat to Brentford was their first in nine matches and Warburton says Rangers must still be on their game against a wounded animal.
“It’s a difficult situation for Wigan – people at far higher pay grades than mine will be discussing this one,” he said.
“When you see the run they’ve been on, Paul Cook and his staff have done a great job.
“They looked in good shape before the points deduction – but suddenly, out of nowhere, came the administration.
“For me, to have that deterioration so quickly is inexplicable. You look at fit and proper owners’ tests and everything else and wonder how this has been allowed to happen.
“As of Friday, the players hadn’t been paid and we don’t know what to expect. However, we do know that they’re professional and Paul is ultra professional, too.
“We have to prepare accordingly – but it must be so difficult for the players and staff to deal with what is an outrageous situation.”
Our Middlesbrough match-winner Jordan Hugill misses the trip to the DW Stadium after picking up a hamstring injury at the Riverside on Sunday.
Warburton added: “Jordan is having a scan and we’ll see how he is. The game will obviously be too soon for him.
“We are down to 19 players but we have a couple more getting nearer to a return. Lee Wallace is closer to coming back, hopefully only a few more days away. Marco Ramkilde is a bit further behind him.
“But it is what it is. We always knew that the current run of games – a game almost every three days – would place enormous demands on the players. It would do for any squad but we have a young, lean squad.
“It’s challenging but you saw the character at Middlesbrough. You saw the quality, as you did against Fulham.
“We look forward to the game and we go there with a real desire to get three points
“It’s a difficult situation for Wigan – people at far higher pay grades than mine will be discussing this one,” he said.
“When you see the run they’ve been on, Paul Cook and his staff have done a great job.
“They looked in good shape before the points deduction – but suddenly, out of nowhere, came the administration.
“For me, to have that deterioration so quickly is inexplicable. You look at fit and proper owners’ tests and everything else and wonder how this has been allowed to happen.
“As of Friday, the players hadn’t been paid and we don’t know what to expect. However, we do know that they’re professional and Paul is ultra professional, too.
“We have to prepare accordingly – but it must be so difficult for the players and staff to deal with what is an outrageous situation.”
Our Middlesbrough match-winner Jordan Hugill misses the trip to the DW Stadium after picking up a hamstring injury at the Riverside on Sunday.
Warburton added: “Jordan is having a scan and we’ll see how he is. The game will obviously be too soon for him.
“We are down to 19 players but we have a couple more getting nearer to a return. Lee Wallace is closer to coming back, hopefully only a few more days away. Marco Ramkilde is a bit further behind him.
“But it is what it is. We always knew that the current run of games – a game almost every three days – would place enormous demands on the players. It would do for any squad but we have a young, lean squad.
“It’s challenging but you saw the character at Middlesbrough. You saw the quality, as you did against Fulham.
“We look forward to the game and we go there with a real desire to get three points
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