Martinez keeps the faith
After Wes Hoolahan had clipped in Simeon Jackson’s cross to put the Canaries in front after 10 minutes, it could have been easy for the top flight’s bottom club to fold.
However, the Latics grew into the match and eventually netted a deserved equaliser through a well-taken finish by Victor Moses on 68 minutes, and had chances, notably through Hugo Rodallega, to snatch a much-needed victory.
Martinez said: “You have seen today why we are in the position we are in because we cannot really show that little bit of composure or have that bit of luck in front of goal.
“We created enough chances to win and grew into the game.
“After giving away the early goal, I felt we were really strong, we kept the ball well, and created numerous chances.
“Clearly it was a good performance for us, but only one point to show and that is what we have to rectify from now until the end.”
Wigan remain bottom, but there is now just two points between them and 17th-placed Bolton.
Martinez added: “The belief is always there. From the outside the first team to go down is always Wigan. That has never affected us and you learn to live with that.
“We are bottom of the league, but we don’t play like a team at the bottom of the league. That makes me very proud and there are 30 points still to play for.”
Latics chairman Dave Whelan had gone public with his demands for answers from Martinez after last weekend’s home defeat to Swansea.
Martinez though, is now only looking forwards, with Wigan due to host West Brom next Saturday.
“In the Premier League every week is difficult, but with the meetings and things like that, it has been out in the media a bit,” he said.
“We were disappointed because we lost at home where I felt we could not compete because we had been playing all over the world.
“But we were unbeaten in February and we showed today what we have in the squad, the mentality which we have and that we are ready for the rest of the season.”
Wigan defender Gary Caldwell claimed the whole squad still believe they can beat the drop.
He said: “It was a sloppy start, we have to look at ourselves for that.
“We know on our day when we play well and work together as a team we’re not bad and we showed that today. We’ve still got great belief, we showed that today. We’re together as a unit, that can only be a good thing.”
Despite their recent dip in form, with successive league defeats following their FA Cup exit to Leicester, Norwich had impressed on their return to the top flight and could have climbed back up to eighth with victory.
Apart from a late header from substitute Steve Morison, which was brilliantly saved by Wigan keeper Ali Al Habsi, the Canaries never really got into top gear.
Norwich boss Paul Lambert though, will always take a sense of perspective.
He said: “It was a tough game, but it was always going to be one of the hardest, if not the hardest, because of the expectancy.
“We could have lost it at the end, so it is another point for us to be safe. I have always thought that if you can’t win it, don’t lose it.
“We showed great resilience and we had to. We could have won it at the end with Morison’s header, but I will take a point.”
Norwich are now 12th, 14 points ahead of the bottom three.
Lambert will retain focus. He said: “I don’t think you can switch off. The league is too big, too demanding.
“Until someone shows you are mathematically safe you keep going.”
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