Martinez wants Wigan to be inspired by fans

Latics' crowds may be among the lowest in the Barclays Premier League but Martinez has regularly hailed their enthusiasm.

This weekend supporters are planning to congregate en masse in the DW Stadium car park to cheer the team as they arrive for their game against Liverpool.

They tried something similar before a game against West Brom last March as Wigan lay bottom of the table.

Wigan played out a 1-1 draw with the Baggies that day but what followed was a remarkable upturn in form which carried them to safety.

Martinez's men won seven of their last nine games - a run which started with victory over Liverpool and included further wins against Manchester United and Arsenal - to beat the drop.

Martinez is planning to arrive at the ground half an hour earlier to make sure his players fully appreciate the fans' efforts this time.

The Spaniard said: "This initiative was a turning point last season and I do hope this can change around the results we have had at home so far.

"It is one of the many examples we have got of how much the fans get involved and how important they are in our preparations and what we do on the pitch.

"The players were shocked to see a lot of fans waiting in the car park and after that they came in with a completely different mental approach.

"They were very happy and they had that positive belief, knowing how important the game was going to be and the rest the season.

"This is our eighth season in the Premier League and we have been fighting with everything to get into the ninth.

"We are developing a strong structure underneath us and the fans are vital for that.

"The fans, and the way they conduct themselves, are one of the reasons we have been able to be successful over the years."

Wigan pulled themselves out of the relegation zone with an impressive 3-0 win at fellow strugglers Reading last week but they are outside the bottom three only on goal difference.

Martinez acknowledges the team must improve their home form to successfully maintain their top-flight status.

They have won just twice in the league at the DW all season, half of the number of victories they have achieved away. History may favour them this weekend, however, with Liverpool having not won in their last four visits.

Martinez said: "We have a very good record at home against Liverpool over the last four seasons and it is one of those moments of the season - we need to embrace those final six games of the season at the DW Stadium.

"Our performances have been very good but our results haven't been able to match that.

"There are certain margins we need to affect. We need to improve in certain aspects and that should start on Saturday.

"They are a very difficult side but we need to create a special atmosphere in our own environment."

Martinez accepts his side do not boast the individual talents of Liverpool but that does not mean they cannot come out on top.

He said: "We know we need to be at our best.

"They are very creative and inventive in areas, they have got real pace and quality, they are well organised and press really well. They keep the ball extremely well.

"It is very difficult to find weaknesses but results are a different matter."

Away from Wigan matters, Martinez's previous club Swansea won the Capital One Cup last weekend, the first major trophy in their history, and will now play in Europe next season.

Martinez is pleased to see what the Swans have achieved but has no regrets over his decision to leave south Wales in 2009.

He said: "No. I am probably the only one that can make that assessment because I have been inside and know the steps that were made along the way and what was needed at the time.

"I am sure all things have happened for different reasons and I am very happy here and very proud of being manager at Wigan Athletic.

"I have never had that thought."