19 Mar 2011 21:23:00<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n ![\"BPL,](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/8ae002cd126563_news.jpg.jpg\")
<\/p><\/div>\nBPL, Wigan Athletic and Birmingham City, Maynor Figueroa <\/p>\n
Related Links<\/h4>\nTeams<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n Wigan Athletic<\/a> manager Roberto Martinez<\/a> was delighted with his side\u2019s performance as well as the late Maynor Figueroa<\/a> winner in their 2-1 win over Birmingham City<\/a>.<\/p>\nDespite going behind in the sixth minute to a Liam Ridgewell goal the Latics showed excellent character to work their way back into the match and they got their just rewards in the first minute of stoppage time when Figueroa\u2019s right foot shot flew past Ben Foster to send the DW Stadium wild.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was pleasing, more than anything was the manner that the players performed,\u201d he told reporters at his post-match press conference.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all knew how important the game was, the significance of the three points, we\u2019re in stage of the season where you can\u2019t hide that anymore.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a very sloppy start, we looked very anxious, we felt that we wanted to win the game but we didn\u2019t know how. We got really hurt with a set play and go one nil down and then I\u2019m just extremely proud.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tom Cleverley\u2019s equaliser mid-way through the first half was particularly pleasing for Martinez as it came at the end of a flowing move involving the whole team. <\/p>\n
The Latics worked the ball forward before Ben Watson released Charles N\u2019Zogbia – Foster couldn\u2019t hold onto his low cross allowing Cleverley to fire into the open net.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt the Cleverley goal was a joy to watch,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the back we can sometimes get frustrated but it\u2019s about understanding why we are trying to get that possession. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat goal opens the whole Birmingham side up from the back to the front which is one of the biggest strengths they\u2019ve got. <\/p>\n
\u201cI felt in the second half we were very mature for a young group, we controlled Birmingham, we defended with great intensity and then we created chance after chance.\u201d<\/p>\n
The win doesn\u2019t lift Wigan off the bottom of the table but it brings them closer to the teams above them, and leaves them just three points off Blackburn Rovers.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes it\u2019s hard to be stubborn and stick with your football concepts,” said Martinez.<\/p>\n
“That\u2019s why today was so pleasing because football gave us three points back just because of the attitude of the players.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we need to forget about the table, we\u2019ve got nine games to go, if we don\u2019t get over 40 points it\u2019s going to be very difficult to stay in the Premier League. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think there are seven or eight teams and someone could get really surprised and dragged into a wrong position really late in the season. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to get over 40 points but it\u2019s impossible to guess the points tally that you\u2019re going to need this season, but I just feel with our goal difference we need more than 40 points, and that\u2019s where the focus is. We got three today and we need another 10.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are a very close family in the football club, and that\u2019s the biggest strength we\u2019ve got.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe crowd kicked on in the second half], from then on it was a real chemistry and strong environment and that\u2019s something we need to carry on in the three games we\u2019ve got left at home.<\/p>\n
“It can only get better, we\u2019re still bottom of the table but the next eight games are an opportunity to get out of the position we\u2019re in. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe Barclays Premier League this season has been fantastic, and there\u2019s still a lot of twists and turns to come our way. \u201c<\/p>\n
The Latics boss had some final praise for full-back Figueroa after he scored his third goal for the club, and the Spaniard revealed he was delighted that the Ecuadorian had completed the perfect hat-trick with his strikes<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s had 110 appearances, and he\u2019s got the perfect hat-trick,\u201d joked Martinez.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe got the wonder goal against Stoke with his left foot, one header against Spurs and now one with the right foot.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s just a shame it took him 110 games!\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
![](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/8ae002cd126563_news.jpg-150x150.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
<\/p><\/div>\nBPL, Wigan Athletic and Birmingham City, Maynor Figueroa <\/p>\n
Related Links<\/h4>\nTeams<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n Wigan Athletic<\/a> manager Roberto Martinez<\/a> was delighted with his side\u2019s performance as well as the late Maynor Figueroa<\/a> winner in their 2-1 win over Birmingham City<\/a>.<\/p>\n Despite going behind in the sixth minute to a Liam Ridgewell goal the Latics showed excellent character to work their way back into the match and they got their just rewards in the first minute of stoppage time when Figueroa\u2019s right foot shot flew past Ben Foster to send the DW Stadium wild.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was pleasing, more than anything was the manner that the players performed,\u201d he told reporters at his post-match press conference.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all knew how important the game was, the significance of the three points, we\u2019re in stage of the season where you can\u2019t hide that anymore.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a very sloppy start, we looked very anxious, we felt that we wanted to win the game but we didn\u2019t know how. We got really hurt with a set play and go one nil down and then I\u2019m just extremely proud.\u201d<\/p>\n Tom Cleverley\u2019s equaliser mid-way through the first half was particularly pleasing for Martinez as it came at the end of a flowing move involving the whole team. <\/p>\n The Latics worked the ball forward before Ben Watson released Charles N\u2019Zogbia – Foster couldn\u2019t hold onto his low cross allowing Cleverley to fire into the open net.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt the Cleverley goal was a joy to watch,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cFrom the back we can sometimes get frustrated but it\u2019s about understanding why we are trying to get that possession. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThat goal opens the whole Birmingham side up from the back to the front which is one of the biggest strengths they\u2019ve got. <\/p>\n \u201cI felt in the second half we were very mature for a young group, we controlled Birmingham, we defended with great intensity and then we created chance after chance.\u201d<\/p>\n The win doesn\u2019t lift Wigan off the bottom of the table but it brings them closer to the teams above them, and leaves them just three points off Blackburn Rovers.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes it\u2019s hard to be stubborn and stick with your football concepts,” said Martinez.<\/p>\n “That\u2019s why today was so pleasing because football gave us three points back just because of the attitude of the players.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we need to forget about the table, we\u2019ve got nine games to go, if we don\u2019t get over 40 points it\u2019s going to be very difficult to stay in the Premier League. <\/p>\n \u201cI think there are seven or eight teams and someone could get really surprised and dragged into a wrong position really late in the season. <\/p>\n \u201cWe need to get over 40 points but it\u2019s impossible to guess the points tally that you\u2019re going to need this season, but I just feel with our goal difference we need more than 40 points, and that\u2019s where the focus is. We got three today and we need another 10.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are a very close family in the football club, and that\u2019s the biggest strength we\u2019ve got.<\/p>\n \u201cThe crowd kicked on in the second half], from then on it was a real chemistry and strong environment and that\u2019s something we need to carry on in the three games we\u2019ve got left at home.<\/p>\n “It can only get better, we\u2019re still bottom of the table but the next eight games are an opportunity to get out of the position we\u2019re in. <\/p>\n \u201cThe Barclays Premier League this season has been fantastic, and there\u2019s still a lot of twists and turns to come our way. \u201c<\/p>\n The Latics boss had some final praise for full-back Figueroa after he scored his third goal for the club, and the Spaniard revealed he was delighted that the Ecuadorian had completed the perfect hat-trick with his strikes<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s had 110 appearances, and he\u2019s got the perfect hat-trick,\u201d joked Martinez.<\/p>\n \u201cHe got the wonder goal against Stoke with his left foot, one header against Spurs and now one with the right foot.<\/p>\n “It\u2019s just a shame it took him 110 games!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n