Wigan vs Fulham preview - Martinez wants to repay loyal supporters

Posted Saturday, October 29, 2011 by PA

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez wants his players to reward the fans who have stayed loyal to them through a difficult couple of months with victory over Fulham.

The Latics have lost six straight Barclays Premier League games, with their last points coming courtesy of a 2-0 victory over QPR back in August.

Only Blackburn, who also have five points, sit beneath them but, unlike at Ewood Park where fans have been staging protests to call for manager Steve Kean's sacking, Martinez has received nothing but support.

Martinez said: "The chairman will never change, he's always so supportive because he's part of the whole thing.

"The unique strength that we've got at our football club is that we cope with disappointment probably better than any other football club because we've got that family touch.

"We've had an incredible football story. Seven seasons in what I consider the best league in world football is a real achievement and it's no coincidence.

"Saturday is a unique opportunity to feel our fans, to enjoy our football in front of them and hopefully we can repay them because their support has been fantastic."

Franco Di Santo and midfielder James McCarthy could return for the game.

Both players missed last week's 1-0 defeat by Newcastle with hamstring problems but have trained this week with the rest of the squad.

Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is recovering from a back problem after returning early from a loan spell with Doncaster.

Fulham manager Martin Jol has bemoaned his side's inability to convert their domination of matches into points ahead of the trip to the DW Stadium.

The Cottagers languish 17th in the Barclays Premier League after a frustrating start to the season that has seen them win just once in nine matches and Jol said: "If you look at the stats we probably have more possession, more final entries, more chances than the opponents [in our matches]."

"Even defensively we have got good stats, but the only thing is we have to put the ball in the net at the right moments.

"We probably need a moment like Bryan Ruiz's [chip against Everton last week] with that extra quality. We have got those sort of players with that quality.

"If you think about it we have Clint Dempsey - who scored 13 goals last season - Andrew Johnson - who scored a hat-trick the week before - and Bobby Zamora.

"Everybody knows they can score goals and everybody knows Bryan Ruiz can too so we have offensive qualities to do that, but we have to do that now.

"We need to stick to the principles that are good but, as any other manager would do, I will try to add something to this squad [when I can].

"[Most of our gifted players] play up front or in offensive midfield so I feel we should be creative and we try and do that.

"That is what we showed against QPR, for example.

"[We won 6-0 and] everything came together but you have to try to do that all the time."

Fulham defender Aaron Hughes will miss the game. The 31-year-old has been ruled out for a couple of weeks with a thigh injury picked up during last week's 3-1 defeat to Everton.

Fellow defender Philippe Senderos will have a thigh injury of his own assessed on Friday, while Orlando Sa (hamstring) and Simon Davies (knee) are out.