Martinez has remained highly complimentary of Latics' performances despite a run of just one win in 10 which leaves them in the Premier League bottom three. He believes the wins will soon come but he expects Villa, who are also struggling to impose themselves under new manager Gerard Houllier, to make life difficult at the DW Stadium on Saturday. Martinez said: "Now is the time to take all the good things we have shown this season and start to get the points we believe the performances deserve. "We are looking at ourselves more than anything - I don't believe the table is affecting us. "We are always trying to get that level of performance that would allow us to get two or three good results. "If you do that, the table will reflect that - you can see how tight the margins are. "In the last two results we have been consistent and now is the time to get wins behind the performances. "But Villa are a very talented side. They have top individuals with a real mixture of youth and experience. "They had a very good result at the weekend and we hope we can neutralise the threat they have got, especially in the wide areas. "If you don't do that Villa can really hurt you on their day." Martinez says he is not fooled by reports of disharmony at Villa Park. Villa's victory over West Brom last weekend was only their second in 11 games and they are just four points above Wigan in the table. "Every single club has got different expectations," Martinez said. "That brings pressure but in any project you need time. "A manager needs to assess the situation and slowly he will impose himself in the manner he wants the team to play. "All the stories in the press are not going to create any doubt about what we are going to be facing. "I don't believe all those stories about bust-ups. You don't know where those things are coming from. "What I know is the quality of very experienced players who on their day have the magic to win football matches. That is what we will have to be very aware of. "They have also had a few injuries which have upset their level of performance but if you watch the game against West Brom you can see a team that fight for each other. "They work hard and are going to be a difficult side for anyone to play against." Martinez is also not overly concerned about his lengthy list of absentees this weekend. Wigan could have up to eight players missing due to injury or suspensions. In-form midfielder Tom Cleverley is a major doubt with a bruised rib while Honduras pair Maynor Figueroa and Hendry Thomas are serving one-game bans. Franco di Santo and Emmerson Boyce is still out with ankle and hamstring problems respectively and Victor Moses and James McCarthy are long-term absentees. Club captain Gary Caldwell, who played 85 minutes in a midweek friendly, could give the side a lift if he has fully overcome a thigh injury. Martinez said: "We are not in a strong position in terms of numbers but the players are in a great frame of mind. "It gives me great pleasure that the rest of the squad is ready to cope with whatever is thrown at us. "We need to make sure we take advantage of playing at home. "In the last six or seven games at home I think we have started to create the environment that it is very difficult to come to the DW Stadium. "That is something we need to carry on showing."
