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'LET'S MAKE FANS PROUD' - GAFFER

Posted on: Thu 11 Mar 2010

Martinez wants repeat of Liverpool performance in derby

Roberto Martinez has urged his players to re-produce the kind of spirit and determination they showed against Liverpool on Monday night when they travel to Bolton on Saturday.

Latics were in fine form that night and the gaffer knows that they must have the same attitude in the remaining ten games of the season:

"For a few weeks we've had a clear sense of responsibility to reaching the kind of stability we need," said Martinez.

"We know what we're capable of and are aware of the talent we have here and we need to make sure we get all the basics right, which is exactly what happened on Monday night against Liverpool.

"To get a result against a side like Liverpool for the first time in the club's history is something the fans deserve. We all know they enjoyed it and that's the reason we work so hard, to give them pleasure in watching us and a sense of pride in their club.

"We've shown flashes of what we're capable this season and now it's just a matter of finding the consistency and getting to a level of performance that will give us the results we deserve."

Bolton pose a very different kind of opposition for Latics at the weekend and the gaffer believes that the outcome of the derby hinges on the slightest of details;

"It's a very important fixture for us and we all know it's going to be a very different game from the one against Liverpool.

"I said before the Liverpool game that now is not a time to focus too much on the league table and that's exactly the same now.

"We have to concentrate on improving ourselves and make sure we finish the season as strong as we can do. If we do that then we'll get the rewards and achieve our aims.

"We must go to Bolton with the determination and desire to re-produce the performance we showed on Monday and make our fans proud.

"I watched their recent game against Sunderland and for an hour I thought Bolton were the better side. After a great win at West Ham they're now on the back of a disappointing defeat and it goes to show how results don't often reflect performances.

"At home they'll want to bounce back and we have to be ready for that, it's going to be a tense derby where concentration will be huge and the little details are going to determine the outcome.

"We need to be the side that takes advantage of the situation to continue the hard-work from Monday."