In a game of few chances Hugo Rodallega capitalised on Paulo da Silva's 76th-minute slip to coolly roll a left-footed shot past Marton Fulop from a narrow angle for his sixth Premier League goal of the season.

"It has been a very testing week," admitted Martinez.

"The reaction today, to get a clean sheet and stop Sunderland playing - they only had one shot on target - it showed all the ingredients needed in adversity.

"I was extremely proud of the players. They were desperate to get on the pitch and they showed it.

"Everyone at the football club is a lot better after the week we have had. It is not frustrating because it is the reality of where we are. The work is towards getting rid of the inconsistency and trying to fulfil our potential.

"Today was a cup final within a league competition. We had to win, we had to perform, we had to react and we did everything.

"The fans could easily have shown their frustration but it was exactly the opposite.

"Everyone has affected their own performance and they showed that today.

"Many aspects of the things that went wrong on Sunday we corrected today."

Martinez dropped Erik Edman, who endured a torrid time against Aaron Lennon at White Hart Lane last weekend, from the squad completely as Maynor Figueroa was deemed fit to return.

The Wigan boss said he felt the Swede, who has played only two league matches this season, needed the break.

"He came back against Fulham after 18 months out (with injury) and we need to make sure he regains his full fitness.

"At the moment I think it was better for him to come out and re-focus and make sure he gets back to his best."

It proved to be an unhappy return to Wigan for Black Cats boss Steve Bruce, who left in the summer having signed Rodallega in January.

"The goal we gave away summed up our performance," he said.

"We gave the ball away twice in the middle of the park, the centre-back was brushed aside by Rodallega and the goalkeeper has come for it when he didn't have to.

"If he had stayed on his line it is an impossible angle for him to score - and that sums up our afternoon."

Earlier this week Bruce was criticised by Wigan chairman Dave Whelan for making "dodgy signings" which contributed to the Tottenham defeat.

"He doesn't look a bad signing now does he?" said the Black Cats boss of Rodallega.

"I've seen the chairman before the game. He didn't have to explain himself. It was perfectly amicable, it was fine."