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Roberto Martinez's spot of bother
ROBERTO MARTINEZ is worried Wigan’s relegation fight is being hampered by his team’s alarming habit of gifting penalties.
The Latics entertain Sunderland tonight looking to avoid conceding a fourth penalty in four games.
Keeper Ali Al-Habsi saved Charlie Adam’s spot-kick after Gary Caldwell handled during Wigan’s goalless draw
with Liverpool at home on December 21.
In the next game Dimitar Berbatov scored a controversial penalty after Antolin Alcaraz’s foul on Ji-Sung Park as Martinez’s side crashed 5-0 at Old Trafford, and Jonathan Walters netted from the spot at Stoke in last Saturday’s 2-2 draw following another Caldwell handball.
Martinez admitted he is concerned at the number of penalties his side have conceded and wants his players to stop handing out gifts.
Wigan boss Martinez said: “I’d rather not go through a period like that again. We have to cut that down if we can.”
Sunderland are well organised, they’re well set up for the counter and it’s going to be a physical game
Wigan have lost just twice in six games since coming from behind to win 2-1 at the Stadium of Light in Steve Bruce’s last game in charge of Sunderland on November 26.
But Martinez expects to face a far tougher test against Martin O’Neill’s resurgent side, fresh from their stunning win over Manchester City.
“We need to make sure the DW Stadium is a hard place for opposition teams,” he said.
“Sunderland are well organised, they’re well set up for the counter and it’s going to be a physical game.”