Wigan Athletic’s home form needs to improve if they are to beat the drop this season according to boss Roberto Martinez after their heavy defeat to Liverpool.
Luis Suarez’s hat-trick after a rare Stewart Downing strike means the Latics are still chasing their first win at the DW Stadium since November.
And Martinez believes if Wigan are to beat the drop they must improve in their remaining home fixtures.
“We can’t allow ourselves to be that soft in any kind of situation, lacking concentration and defensive intensity,” he told the club website.
“We want to focus on our home form between now and the end of the season, so the defeat is disappointing and we’ll see this as an isolated game.
“Overall, we need to learn from the experience, move on and make sure the next five games at the DW Stadium bring a more solid look to that.
“The group is experienced, and we all know what is expected in the coming weeks.”
Martinez felt there were still positives to take from the match however, in spite of their heavy defeat.
“Despite the scoreline we didn’t give up, and the second-half performance was full of positives and determination, even though by that stage we had given ourselves too much to do,” said Martinez.
“I thought Callum McManaman was magnificent when he came on, and gave a lesson in how to approach these kind of situations, with real enthusiasm and desire.
“His performance was very pleasing, as was the reaction from certain players in an impossible situation when the game can slip away.
“It’s disappointing, because in the last two games we’ve shown the high standards within the team, but we’ll move on and take the positives into next weekend’s game.”
Image courtesy of BBC Sport, via YouTube, with thanks
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