'DW support is going to be vital over coming months' says Martinez

Roberto Martinez is keen to learn lessons from Wednesday night's defeat at Blackburn and use home advantage to overcome Everton on Saturday.

Earlier in the season Everton struggled for form, but with the return from injury of a number of significant players, and a good run of form recently, the gaffer knows Latics will have to be at their best in order to get the right result.

"They've (Everton) always had an outstanding squad and the quality of player has always been there," said Martinez.

"Probably early on in the season they couldn't find their rhythm but that's completely different now, I think their most important players are hitting form, they're on the back of some very good results, particularly at home, and we'll have to be at our best to compete and challenge them.

"When we're playing at home we feel confident and know that we can match anyone and it all makes for an exciting game.

"Our style of play and the togetherness we have with our fans is what will bring us success this season, as a football club we need to get rid of that inconsistency and continue to grow until the end of the season.

"Our home games are going to be very important. We all know how difficult it is to play away from home in the Premier League, as it has been for a couple clubs this season who haven't won on the road.


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"So when we do play at the DW Stadium the fans are going to have a massive influence on the outcome of the game.

"On the injury-front it's a bit too early to bring Chris (Kirkland) back in, two weeks is the period we've conceded he'll be out for, but he's a quick healer, and I wouldn't bet against him coming back earlier than everyone expects.

"Mario (Melchiot) is still recovering from a nasty knock at Wolves and Blackburn, so we'll keep assessing him, but it'll be touch and go for Saturday's game."

Two goals conceded from set-pieces on Wednesday night were Latics' downfall at Ewood Park, but the gaffer insists that his team will learn those valuable lessons and strive to make sure they don't re-occur in the future.

He said: "Well since the home game against Blackburn on Boxing Day we hadn't conceded from a set-piece, so it was frustrating to do so against the same team.

"Your concentration and starting positions from set-plays are aspects you have to master, and we'll continue to work on putting that right.

"I think most will agree that the First-Half against Blackburn was as poor as you will see in the Premier League, but in the Second-Half we were the better side and were the team that were trying to play football and create chances.

"To come away from Ewood Park with nothing after that effort was hard to take, and now there are certain lessons to learn and make sure that it doesn't happen again."

The game will also be the last of January, a month full of speculation, particularly at Wigan Athletic, and the gaffer explained that he and his team will still be working hard to strengthen the squad before and after the window closes:

"We'll never change our philosophy with regards to the type of players we bring in, and we'll continue to work hard in order to improve the squad as best we can both inside and outside of the window.

"Our fans will be the first to know of any developments, but right now we have a number of very important games we need to focus on.

"Every single home game between now and the end of the season are going to be huge occasions and we need to make sure the chemistry we have here at the DW Stadium plays a big part in our performances."