Source: Team_Talk
Martinez: Bravery can keep us up
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is convinced his side showed the spirit in defeat at Manchester City that will save them from relegation. The Latics still have work to do to preserve their Premier League status after Monday's controversial 3-0 loss at Eastlands left them just four points above the relegation zone.But Martinez was pleased with the Wigan performance against City, even after the sending off of Gary Caldwell that preceded Carlos Tevez's late hat-trick, and wants more of the same at Fulham on Sunday.Martinez said: "It is not about feeling sorry for ourselves - those situations happen."For the first hour I was very pleased with the performance and proud of the players."We stopped Manchester City being a threat and we were showing we are capable of being a threat ourselves."The sending off changed a lot of things but even then we had a period of seven minutes when we had two very good chances."We played with a great, brave approach. I felt in many aspects we were the better side."I take more positives then negatives from Monday's performance."We didn't get any points but if we carry on with those standards we are going to get the points and the rewards."We are showing consistently now we can reach certain levels and that is very pleasing. The next step is to show that in the results as well."Martinez has redeveloped the Wigan team after the high-profile departures of Emile Heskey, Wilson Palacios and Antonio Valencia at various points in 2009 left it light on star quality.Wigan have also suffered some heavy defeats, not least a 9-1 thrashing by Tottenham in November, and emerged from a difficult winter spent playing on a poor surface at the DW Stadium.Martinez feels good progress has been made and now he just needs survival to complete a satisfactory first season in charge.The Spaniard added: "We are the team we are because of all the setbacks and the things we have had to experience this season."I think everyone will agree it has been a challenging campaign."I don't think we have had anything easy or many things going our way."But you have seen the character and the way we react to disappointment."Without a doubt, we are a stronger unit and a stronger football club than we were in July and August."We are excited about the next six games. It is a huge 18 points to play for and I can guarantee we are all ready."Wigan may benefit from Fulham's prolonged run in the Europa League by facing a weakened side at Craven Cottage.The match comes between the two legs of their quarter-final tie against Wolfsburg and manager Roy Hodgson could rest a number of players, as he did at Hull last week.Martinez feels Fulham have earned the right to select such a team and is a huge admirer of what the London club have achieved since Hodgson saved them from relegation two years ago."He is a gentleman and a football man and in the modern game I don't think you get those two things together too often," said Martinez of his opposite number."He is a great inspiration for all the teams at the wrong end of the table, where Fulham were a couple of years back."They have turned their fortunes around and they have beaten two of the best teams in Europe in Juventus and Shakhtar Donetsk."They are a clear example for anyone in the Premier League."Sometimes without finances you need to find other solutions, be creative and a little bit different."Roy Hodgson has been with his Fulham side and it can give you great returns."