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MATCH PREVIEW
Wigan growing in adversity - Martinez
Roberto Martinez believes Wigan will be stronger for the injury and suspension problems that are threatening to derail their Barclays Premier League campaign.
The Latics go into Saturday's clash with basement side QPR at the DW Stadium looking to avoid a third straight defeat and without eight senior players.
Defender Antolin Alcaraz and playmaker Shaun Maloney (both groin) are close to fitness but unlikely to feature, while midfielder Ben Watson (broken leg), wingers Albert Crusat (knee) and Ryo Miyaichi (ankle) and defender Ivan Ramis (hamstring) are also out.
To cap Martinez's selection problems, centre-backs Gary Caldwell and Maynor Figueroa are both suspended, with Wigan failing in an appeal against the latter's red card in Monday's 3-0 defeat by Newcastle.
The Wigan boss said: "We've got four centre-halfs missing and that doesn't happen a lot but I'm really pleased in the manner the other players have been working, and they've been waiting for their chance.
"That's what we want to create at the football club, a structure where you've got players ready to come in and to perform in the manner we want to play.
"Adrian Lopez came in against Reading and he performed against Manchester City and Newcastle at a very high level. Emmerson Boyce has been outstanding in that new role.
"I never look at the players that aren't there, it's the opposite. And once we get through this period we're going to be a stronger squad and a squad ready to finish the season really strong."
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
QPR 3-1 Wigan 21/01/2012
Wigan 2-0 QPR 27/08/2011
PREDICTION
Wigan 1-1 QPR
Source: DSG
