Roberto Martinez believes Wigan must hit the ground running this season

Roberto Martinez, Wigan Athletic

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Wigan manager Roberto Martinez says that his side must start the Premier League season much better than they did last year.

The Latics boss, who recently rejected the chance to take over at Aston Villa, felt that the slow start in the last campaign had seriously disrupted his side.

“Last season, we made a bad start and effectively started the season with a minus 10 goal difference,” Martinez told the club’s official website.

“The aim we have is to start the 2011-12 season with the same level of performance that we finished last season, especially at the DW.”

The Spanish manager placed an emphasis on building good home form to get the side off to a better start.

“We have an opportunity to take our momentum from last season into the new campaign,” he said.

“Home form is very important, and there was a real difference as we progressed through last season.

“It doesn’t matter who you are facing, every home game is an opportunity and we will be looking to get that first home win as quickly as we can to really fill us with confidence.”

Martinez also paid tribute to the Latics fans and called on them to keep up their support.

“I thought our supporters responded magnificently to what was happening on the field towards the end of the season,” said the 37-year-old.

“We have a very strong core of passionate fans at the club, and it’s important that year after year we can build on that.

“Everything we do here is for the fans, and they will like nothing better than to start the season well.”

Wigan’s first match of the new Premier League season will be at home to newly promoted Norwich.