Youthful Wigan impress Martinez

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez was pleased with the response from his young players in their come-from-behind win over Birmingham.

In a crucial English Premier League relegation six-pointer, Martinez’s side recovered from Liam Ridgewell’s early goal to equalise through Tom Cleverley after 25 minutes, before a spell of dominance was ended with Maynor Figueroa’s injury-time winner.

The average age of Wigan’s team was under 25, with Martinez preferring to put his faith in youth rather than experienced players to fight the relegation battle.

“It was really pleasing to see that maturity of growing into the game in such a young group, it gives you a great sense of pride,” Martinez told Sky Sports.

“I’m very proud of the players because we all knew how important the three points were, but what was more important is the way they played the game.”

“The players slowly gained control of the game and in the second-half it was just chance after chance, looking at the number of corners that we had.”

A change of system helped Wigan secure their late winner, with strikers Conor Sammon and Hugo Rodallega thrown on just after the hour mark, leading Martinez to praise the club’s depth.

“It was important to change the dynamics a little bit,” he said.

“We got into a position where we couldn’t get enough bodies in the box. With the options that we have on the bench now, we have to use it, and I think it was one of those moments when we needed everyone and it’s great to see that everyone is desperate to play a part.”

“In that respect, it’s a win for the squad and it’s something that we need to carry on now for the next eight games of the season.”

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish was not so happy, disappointed his side did not win a penalty when Antolin Alcaraz toppled Curtis Davies only moments before Figueroa’s late strike.

“Just before he (Figueroa) scored I felt we should have had a penalty but it would have been unfair on Wigan for us to win,” McLeish said.

“But at same time that happens during the season, you steal some points, you get some luck and some bad luck. And we had some bad luck with penalty award, how he (the referee) doesn’t see it’s a penalty, I’m baffled.”

“I’ve looked at the video, he (Alcaraz) doesn’t look at the ball, just takes the player out. We didn’t get the break, but we’ve had one penalty this season and there’s another six or seven I think we should have had.”

The result still keeps Wigan bottom, but they are now within one point of 19th-placed Birmingham City and just three points behind 13th placed Birmingham.