Wigan Athletic vs West Bromwich(WBA) preivew - Martinez demands perfection

Posted Saturday, March 17, 2012 by PA

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez believes only a perfect performance will be good enough to beat West Brom as his side begin their fight for Premier League survival.

The Latics are bottom of the table with 10 games remaining having won only one game at home this season.

On Saturday they face a West Brom side who have one of the best away records in the top flight, eclipsed only by league leaders Manchester United and title contenders Manchester City.

Martinez knows Wigan need to improve on recent displays at the DW Stadium if they are to stand a chance of repeating last season's feat of avoiding relegation in a five-way fight between themselves, Wolves, QPR, Bolton and Blackburn.

"Manchester United, Manchester City and West Brom - those are the best top three away records in the league so that shows you away from home West Brom are a tough team to play," Martinez said.

Wigan Athletic vs West Bromwich(WBA) preivew - Martinez demands perfection

"They're well organised and well disciplined. They're a group of players that has been together for a while with great experience and a big threat going forwards so we'll expect a very, very tough game.

"What they do well is use the counter-attack to good effect so we'll have to be fully aware.

"In many ways it's a game that we'll have to be perfect in over the 95 minutes as this team doesn't concede many goals."

Wigan are waiting on the fitness of striker Hugo Rodallega (knee) and midfielder Albert Crusat (toe) ahead of the clash.

Martinez has backed Rodallega to find his goalscoring form in the final stages of the campaign.

The Colombia international has only scored two goals this season but Martinez is confident the 26-year-old has a big part to play in engineering Wigan's escape from the relegation zone.

"Hugo has worked really well and he has created many chances and brought a real threat in our attacking play," he said.

"That's what we need in a bit of an up-and-down season but now he's ready to perform at his best.

"I think you can see a real air of concentration and focus in the squad and we can't wait to get on the pitch. That's a very good state when you're in the position that we're in.

"Looking at the last five games we've got at home, that's a pretty important part of the season to get everyone sharp and everyone desperate to get on the pitch and ready to contribute to the side."

West Brom centre-back Jonas Olsson is suspended for the trip to the north west while striker Peter Odemwingie only has an outside chance of shaking off a calf problem.

But right-back Billy Jones and winger Jerome Thomas are available again after recovering from their respective hamstring setbacks.

Baggies head coach Roy Hodgson insists he will not tolerate his players losing their cutting edge and easing up now survival is virtually guaranteed for a third successive season.

Hodgson believes the Baggies can go into the encounter at bottom side Wigan able to play fear-free football as they are 13 points clear of the relegation zone.

But he will not hesitate to make changes if he feels anyone lets their standards drop in the final quarter of the campaign.

Hodgson said: "The three recent wins in a row lifted us into a comfortable position.

"If the fear has been removed to some extent, that is a good thing as long as we don't fall into the trap - complacency.

"I've not noticed any slackening in the training, of the players showing signs of not wanting to put the effort and the work in.

"I hope that remains until the end of the season. That is what we will be pushing for.

"But if I get the impression one or two people aren't playing like they were when we weren't safe, I shall be looking to that bench.

"We have Shane Long, Graham Dorrans, Somen Tchoyi, Craig Dawson, Paul Scharner and Simon Cox, all of whom for me are bona fide Premier League players.

"I would play any of them, so the ones who are keeping them out of the team now have to make sure they're working really hard to keep them out of the team, otherwise they will be exchanging places."

Hodgson added: "We are one win from eighth place. That is the way we tend to look at it now.

"Of course, we want to get the magical 40 points as quickly as possible. But we are also aware there are four or five teams above us who are only on one or two points more than us."

West Brom are providing free coaches for 4,500 of their fans travelling to the DW Stadium as a thank you for their support this season.