Hammers win a key moment - Martinez
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has called on his side to show last week's win over West Ham was just the beginning when they travel to Tottenham on Saturday.
The Latics had gone six Barclays Premier League games without a victory before their 2-1 win against the Hammers, which gave them breathing space over the bottom three.
But, more importantly for Martinez, it was also just reward for their performance, something he felt had been sorely lacking this campaign.
He said: "It was a key moment in our season and now we need to show that consistency in the weeks ahead. People had started to look at the table and get a bit anxious.
"In football you play to win games and win points and when you get into a little bit of a negative run in terms of points, even though the performances are good, you don't want to create a problem when there isn't one.
"That game was probably the moment we had to win to get away from those thoughts. The way we had to perform, I've seen it time after time, you're so desperate to win you forget how you're going to win and it becomes a big mountain.
"And it was the complete opposite. Now is the moment to carry on that level of performance."
Wigan won their first away game of the season at Southampton but since then have failed to pick up a point on the road, losing at Manchester United, Sunderland and Swansea.
White Hart Lane has not always been the best venue for Wigan, notably when they were beaten 9-1 in November 2009, but they bounced back the next season with a 1-0 victory, their first win at the ground.
Martinez said: "We've been mentally very strong to cope with the previous results that we had at White Hart Lane.
"I think we're well over that, now it's more a case of being able to produce the level of football we've had at home away from home for the duration of the 90 minutes.
"Our performance at Southampton was a very good performance. We need to learn a little bit from the last two performances against Sunderland and Swansea, and there are many things we need to get right.
"Spurs will test us to the limit and it will be a fantastic challenge for us to see how we've addressed those problems."
Playmaker Mousa Dembele is unavailable for the hosts due to a niggling hip injury.
Striker Emmanuel Adebayor is in contention after recovering from illness and a back injury, but midfielder Jake Livermore is a doubt after suffering an ankle injury in Wednesday's defeat to Norwich.
One man likely to feature is full-back Kyle Walker.
The former Sheffield Untied man enjoyed a hugely successful season last term in which he was compared to Roberto Carlos, scored a magnificent derby winner against Arsenal, and won the Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year award.
Walker admits his form has been patchy at times this season, however.
"My form has been a bit up and down to be truthful. I couldn't tell you why," Walker said.
"I had a good season last season so to keep that standard is very high.
"I will try and keep doing what I did last season and hopefully everything will fall in to place.
"I am prepared to work after training...that will make me a better player."
One player whose form has not been questioned this season is Walker's team-mate Jermain Defoe.
Defoe struggled to make Harry Redknapp's first team last season, but he has looked sharp since Andre Villas-Boas' arrival, scoring eight goals for club and country so far this year.
Walker thinks Defoe is in just as good form now as he was three years ago when he put five past Wigan in that 9-1 win.
"I don't think he has ever dropped that form (since the 9-1 win)," Walker added.
"He is one of the first in the gym and he does his finishing after training as well so he is getting the rewards he didn't get last season.
"He is someone young strikers look up to and will learn a lot off, not just in terms of his goalscoring, but his attitude as well.
"He is a pleasure to play with."
Source: PA
