Points earned against Stoke City, Chelsea, and Liverpool in a tough December month have kept the LAtics chasing hard on the pack just outside the relegation zone.
Now, Martinez is hoping his team can push on in 2012 and earned the points that their performances deserve, starting tonight with the visit of Sunderland.
Speaking about the fixture to the Wigan Evening Post, Martinez said: “As we go into January, tonight’s game is a very important one for us after the tough month we’ve had, when we faced Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.
“We passed the month with flying colours and showed a real belief in ourselves, playing outstanding phases of football and coupling that with results in the scorelines.
“The results have been good enough, I feel, to take us into 2012 ready to get the ultimate rewards this team deserves. We’re not there yet but, as a football club, we need to affect the challenges that lie ahead of us together – united.”
Club captain Gary Caldwell is suspended for the game following his red card against Stoke City. Both Steve Gohouri and emmerson Boyce are in competition to replace the Scotland international.
