Wigan manager Roberto Martinez confident of Latics survival
Last updated on .From the section Football
Roberto Martinez is sure his Wigan side will avoid relegation if they can repeat their display against Manchester City in their final six league games.
The Latics were beaten 1-0 thanks to a late Carlos Tevez strike but created numerous chances at Etihad Stadium.
Wigan are three points from safety and also have an FA Cup final against City to look forward to.
"If we play like this we'll get the points we deserve," the Wigan manager told BBC Sport.
"It's a performance to be proud of and when you play against a team like Manchester City you have to accept conceding a goal with a piece of magic.
"But from a football and tactical point of view, we were better in every department and deserved the points."
The defeat at City was Wigan's second loss in nine matches.
Martinez feels his team, who have pulled away from relegation trouble in the closing stages of the last two seasons, are finding form at the right time.
The Spaniard added: "We've been in a very good run of form. [The performance at City] was no accident. We've been playing really well in the last few weeks and the FA Cup success has really helped us.
"We've got a very exciting period but the team is at a very good level. The performance was magnificent.
"We didn't take the chances, it is as simple as that. We created four very good chances."
City manager Roberto Mancini saw his side trim the advantage of leaders Manchester United to 13 points after Sir Alex Ferguson's team were held to a 2-2 draw at West Ham.
But Italian Mancini, who blamed tiredness for his team's laboured performance against Wigan, felt United's equaliser in their 2-2 draw at Upton Park should not have stood.
Mancini said: "If they hadn't scored an offside goal it would be even fewer points.
"I was not frustrated [with the game against Wigan]. It was difficult because we played three days ago and didn't have time to recover."
Defender Micah Richards returned to action after six months out with a knee injury but Mancini was unimpressed by the 24-year-old's efforts.
He said: "He's not in good form. I think he needs to work a lot. I didn't like.
"I am happy because he came back to play, but it is impossible you play well for 70 minutes.
"He was tired and it is important he came back to play."
City assistant manager David Platt has confirmed that Sergio Aguero was withdrawn at half-time with a hamstring problem and is doubtful for Sunday's trip to Tottenham.
