Source: PA
Derby clash to lift Latics
Manager Roberto Martinez believes the intensity of the derby clash at Blackburn could spark his Wigan team back into life.
Martinez felt the Latics were starting to make encouraging progress before going down to a disappointing 2-0 loss at Fulham last weekend.
That defeat ended a six-game unbeaten in all competitions and left Wigan 17th in the Barclays Premier League.
Martinez is viewing the result as a glitch and expects his men to bounce back as they travel the short distance to Ewood Park to face the side immediately below them.
The Spaniard said: "Now is a great moment to react. It is a great opportunity to get rid of that feeling we were left with on Saturday and make sure we carry on with the good work we showed in October. We have played a few derbies now. Even in the Carling Cup when we played Preston, you could feel the excitement in the fans. It is something that comes through to the players and you can feel that building up to the game.
"Ewood Park is a really tough place to go, they have found a way that is very effective. They are on the back of a really good performance against Chelsea when they didn't get any rewards. We are coming on the back of a disappointing performance after doing well for six weeks. There are many ingredients to make it a really tough game but it would mean so much to perform well and get the points."
