Wigan manager Roberto Martinez will not make Chris Kirkland a scapegoat for his side's dreadful start to the Barclays Premier League season.
Kirkland endured a personal nightmare as Wigan were thrashed 4-0 by promoted Blackpool at the DW Stadium last weekend.
Martinez has given the former Liverpool keeper no public assurances he will start the daunting clash against Chelsea but he will not single the 29-year-old out for blame.
The Latics boss said: "We win as a team and we lose as a team. Chris is a very experienced man now and he is very responsible. Sometimes being a goalkeeper you are a lonely figure on the pitch but he shouldn't take any extra responsibility.
"He has won many games and I am sure the players would agree with me that we are all together winning and all together losing. It has been a difficult week as a group and individually but that togetherness is a good sign."
Source: PA
