Source: Team_Talk
Latics boss eyes derby lift
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez believes a tough and passionate derby against Preston on Wednesday night could provide the spark his players need. Martinez's side suffered their third defeat in five Premier League games as Manchester City won at the DW Stadium on Sunday.Wigan are 18th in the table with just four points and need a lift ahead of a trip to Birmingham at the weekend.Martinez is hoping that will come as Championship side Preston travel 21 miles down the M6 for a Carling Cup third-round tie.The Spaniard is expecting a lively affair, even though Preston have endured their own troubles this term, and wants his players to feed off the atmosphere.Martinez said: "They have got nothing to lose and are going to make it very difficult."We know it is not going to be easy and we will have to be very professional and ready."In the cup competitions there are no big differences on the pitch."It is a big rivalry. We haven't played against them for a little while now but it is a derby."It is a game that is going to have extra tension and for the foreign players it is going to be a unique experience."It is a unique opportunity to show what they can do."Wigan reached the final of the competition in 2006 but Martinez does not want to make bold predictions of another prolonged run.Having successfully kept the club in the top flight last season, Martinez intends to build his team gradually."It would be a long-term ambition of the football club and for our chairman it would be a deserved award," he said."We were very close not long ago against Manchester United in the final but at the moment they are just dreams and long-term ambitions."We are going to go into each game wanting to win and see where that takes us."The short-term ambition at the moment is exactly the same, just fulfilling the potential of the squad."Martinez is considering making changes for the home clash.Victor Moses, Mauro Boselli, James McArthur and Steven Caldwell are all pushing for starts.Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland will hope for another chance after losing his place to Ali Al Habsi."Now is the time to utilise the whole squad and this game is ideal for that," Martinez said.