The Latics' win at White Hart Lane came on the back of 4-0 and 6-0 defeats in their opening two games of the campaign. They had also shipped nine goals in the corresponding fixture last season but their defence was simply unrecognisable from those debacles. "The type of performance we had today was really of a group of players really committed," said manager Martinez after watching Hugo Rodallega net an 80th-minute winner. "They were prepared to give their lives for each other." The Latics boss admitted his side had lacked such qualities in previous matches. "We were missing that togetherness, that team spirit," he said. "But today, everyone will agree that we had that in abundance." Revealing how such a dramatic turnaround in fortunes had been achieved in just a week, Martinez added: "We are a team that want to be really brave, we want to play face to face with all the teams. "Unless you are very disciplined and you are prepared to cover those two yards sometimes with real intensity then you're going to get hurt. "We addressed that approach more than anything and I think you saw that. "Spurs put a lot of pressure on in the second half and we didn't really look under any exposure. "We were a team for once, and that allowed the football side to make a difference." Wigan's new-found spirit was typified by the performance of centre-backs Steve Gohouri and Antolin Alcaraz. "When you play against Spurs, you know you're going to be really tested," Martinez said. "That partnership today allowed us to perform in the manner that we did." On-loan Bolton goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi - retained from the midweek Carling Cup second-round win at Hartlepool - also dealt brilliantly with the few shots he had to save. "He had a great performance against Hartlepool in the League Cup and you could see that feeling was really there," said Martinez, who revealed regular number one Chris Kirkland had a hip problem. "I saw a goalkeeper dominant, he always made the right decisions and when you've got that at the back, it allows the defenders to be confident." Asked whether Wigan had now turned the corner, Martinez said: "There are many things that we need to improve. "I think we need to be better on the ball. We can be a lot better than what we showed today." Spurs boss Harry Redknapp's worst fears were realised as his side suffered what appeared a hangover from their historic progress to the Champions League group stage. But Redknapp insisted Wednesday night's exertions were no excuse, saying: "Why should it be? You should come here today full of confidence after winning 4-0 in a Champions League game. "You should come here today and feel fantastic about yourself, not have a hangover or feel lethargic. "You should go out there today knowing the crowd love you and the way you played on the Wednesday and last Saturday and come here and really play today." Redknapp also had a slight dig at the crowd, saying: "I fear these games more than any other games. These are not games that you enjoy. "People turn up here today and they expect you to walk all over them. "After two minutes, we give the ball away and they're, 'Ooooh' - they're on your case." Wigan denied Tottenham time and space all afternoon and Redknapp added: "People have got to work harder to get in the game. Too many today were too easily marked out of the game." Admitting his side missed injured midfielder Luka Modric, the Spurs boss said: "We lacked the guile to break them down." "You miss Modric in these games. "When the games are tight, he takes the ball for you." Redknapp also maintained there was little chance of Spurs signing anyone before the transfer window closes, including Scott Parker and Ashley Young.
