Martinez unfazed by Bruce

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is not concerned by Steve Bruce's return ahead of their weekend clash with Sunderland.

Former Latics boss Bruce, takes his Wearside outfit to his old stomping ground looking to heap more misery on Martinez following last Sunday's embarrassing 9-1 defeat to Tottenham.

The Black Cats tactician is wary of a backlash on his first return to the DW Stadium since quitting in the summer and his successor Martinez claims his side are ready to show they have learned from their White Hart Lane bruising.

But the Latics manager insists Bruce's return to the North West will have no bearing on the game.

"It is such an important game for us after what happened on Sunday that it doesn't need any extra spice," said the Spaniard.

"Steve comes back to a club where he had great success but from our point of view it is all about our reaction and our performance.

"It has been too hurtful a week to distract any attention and it doesn't need any add-ons.

"We are so focused on our reaction and performance and showing our togetherness it doesn't matter who we are playing against."

Standards
Martinez was critical of his players for the way they switched off and gave up against Spurs last time out, but believes they are ready to make amends - having already stumped up cash to refund fans who journeyed to London last weekend.

"Sometimes you need to realise you have to maintain your standards and performance for 95 minutes," he added.

"We should not have allowed ourselves to accept we were out of the game - that is a sign of a lack of concentration.

"In these situations it separates men from boys. If you look down, try to look away from the reality, it is not the right way to approach it," he added.

"You are as good as your reaction to adversity but you can only be pleased after a performance against a Sunderland side who are going to test us.

"The players are ready to explode, to flush all the bad feeling out of their bodies.

"If the players weren't hurt or feel bad about what happened it would be a clear sign we have the wrong characters at the club.

"As individuals and collectively it is a huge test, but I have seen the character.

"And as a football club we are stronger now than we were on Sunday."