Roberto Martinez rues Wigan Athletic’s missed opportunity against Everton

Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez (Getty Images )

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Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez praised his team’s performance in their 1-1 draw against Everton at the DW Stadium, but he was disappointed that they had been unable to take all three points.

A Charles N’Zogbia goal was cancelled out by a late Leighton Baines penalty, but Martinez felt that his side were the better of the two and should have gone on to win the match.

“Well obviously, the result was an important one today, the three points now at this stage of the season was something that we really wanted, but you couldn’t afford to lose and that’s another aspect of the performance,” he told reporters after the match.

“I felt that the performance was very, very good, in the manner that we played, in the manner that we defended at times and in the manner that we’ve been able to create the amount of chances that we did.

“In the first half to score a goal from open play, a very good goal, was very pleasing and we are in front of a very experienced and very good Everton side that you have to be at your best if you want to get a result.

“So I’m frustrated in a way because I felt that we probably edged it in the amount of chances that we had and we were the better side, but we’ll take a point and we’ll get ready for next week.”

Mikel Arteta had already seen one penalty saved by Ali Al Habsi for Everton, after N’Zogbia was fouled by Leon Osman, but they were given another when Hugo Rodallega handled in the penalty area from a corner.

Martinez was frustrated at the concession of the two penalties, although he felt that Osman had been “clever” in winning the first one.

He added: “Well the second one is disappointing because obviously we are at the end of a little bit of pressure from Everton from set-plays, there is a couple of free-kicks and a couple of corners and it is a very strange penalty to give away.

“Obviously, we are in a position where we want to keep that clean sheet. The first one is a bit more clever play from Osman.

“It’s a very sloppy action. Football is a contact sport, I don’t think that every corner in the box should be a penalty.

“If it is a penalty, I understand why the referee gave it, but we defended that one really, really well and we scored a very good goal and then probably the key aspect today is not being able to score that second goal after the chances that we had.

“I thought that Tim Howard was in very good form and that allowed Everton to gain a point.

The result means that Wigan remain in the relegation zone, but are only one goal worse off than Blackpool who occupy 17th place.

Martinez, though, remains confident his team will survive if they are more clinical in their performances.

He said: “Overall, the performance I felt was very, very mature because of the expectations and the anxiety you can see around the ground and rightly so, but we kept being brave, we got on the ball, we played and we created enough chances to win the game and that’s something that pleases me.

“Now we need to carry on improving and make sure that we take the chances and at the end of the season I’m sure that we will get the rewards that we deserve.”