Bolton boss Owen Coyle has praised counterpart Roberto Martinez for the mental strength he has shown in sticking to his footballing principles and guiding Wigan through their difficult start to the season. The Latics opened their Barclays Premier League campaign in August with a 4-0 home defeat against promoted Blackpool and were hammered 6-0 by Chelsea at the same venue in the following game. It appeared as if Martinez's preference for attacking play was leaving his side horribly exposed, but a 1-0 win at Tottenham halted the slump and Wigan have now taken nine points from their last six league games. Coyle, whose team travel to the DW Stadium on Saturday, is also an advocate of flowing football and has hailed the Spaniard for persevering with what he believes in. "I have known Roberto for many years and he is very much a purist," Coyle said. "He loves passing and moving the ball and there are tremendous players in offensive positions for Wigan - the Rodallegas, the N'Zogbias. Di Santo is a terrific player, Boselli was a big-money signing. These are very good players and they look to retain that possession and pass and move the ball. "All credit to Roberto because he came in for a bit of flak, as we all do as managers, at the start of the season and they have seen their way through that. He has shown tremendous mental strength and tremendous belief in what they are doing at Wigan and they have started moving themselves up the table."
Source: PA
Source: PA