The Latics boss rested most of the players who had served him throughout the hectic festive period, with only Hendry Thomas, James McArthur and Maynor Figueroa keeping their places from the 1-1 Premier League draw with Bolton in midweek. Until the final stages, things went very much to the script for Wigan, who took a two-goal lead through Mohamed Diame and a first for the club from 19-year-old striker Callum McManaman. A late double from Hull veteran Nick Barmby kept the hosts in contention but Diame's second 13 minutes from time ensured it was the visitors who emerged victorious. Martinez said: "We came here with a clear determination to be very professional, to give an opportunity to players that haven't been playing too much this season and I felt the way we applied ourselves was very professional. "We controlled the game from the beginning, probably we scored at the right times but every time we went forward, especially in the second half, we looked like we were going to score." Wigan finished the match with four 19-year-olds on the pitch as Jordan Robinson, Jordan Mustoe and Daniel Redmond joined McManaman off the bench, and Martinez was thrilled to get such a positive glimpse of the club's future. "It was pleasing for us in the last 10 minutes to be able to send on the youngsters to enjoy the moment and the experience of how to defend a lead, and I felt the whole exercise was a real success for us," the Spaniard added. "It gives us a lot of new players who are going to help in the first team." With a crowd of only 10,433 at the KC Stadium, it was no surprise the game took a long time to come to life. Indeed, the first half was a low-key affair notable for Diame's second goal in Wigan colours and lively performances from Daniel De Ridder and McManaman. Dutch midfielder De Ridder was making his first appearance for Wigan since May 2009 following a spell with Hapoel Tel Aviv but he wasted no time in making his presence felt, twice forcing Matt Duke into smart saves. And he then played a key role in the opening goal, which came in the 21st minute. Hull struggled to defend a cross from McManaman and it was De Ridder who reacted first, poking the ball towards goal and leaving Duke helpless as Diame tapped home. A 37th-minute lob from new signing Matty Fryatt, which landed on the roof of the net, was Hull's only clear chance in the opening period, and 11 minutes into the second half they were two down. This time it was all McManaman's work as the 19-year-old cut in from the left before curling a pinpoint shot inside the far post. That looked to be that but, just as the game should have been winding down, it burst into life, and it was 36-year-old substitute Barmby who proved the catalyst for Hull. With 76 minutes gone, the midfielder guided Andy Dawson's lovely cross into the far corner and, after Diame had exploited more poor home defending to restore the two-goal lead, Barmby headed in his second a minute from time to reduce the arrears once again. Although the comeback gave Hull boss Nigel Pearson some positives to take from the game, he admitted the Tigers were flattered by the final score. He said: "If I'm honest, the scoreline at the end makes it look a little bit closer than it was. I think we were undone with a bit of pace and power and athleticism and they were by far the better side. "I was disappointed we didn't get amongst them a little bit more and put them under more pressure. We talked about the tempo of that game before the start and we just didn't get about the field. "We finished the game pretty well but we were also very open at the back."
