Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez: 'I never expected relegation'

Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez has said that he "never expected" relegation from the Premier League.

The Latics had to win at Arsenal tonight, just three days after their FA Cup triumph, to maintain any realistic hope of avoiding the drop on the final day but couldn't manage it on a sodden evening in North London.

"I never expected this," Martinez told Sky Sports News afterwards. "I know we were in a difficult position, but the players are an incredible bunch and they don't deserve this.

"It's a tough day for the football club. We had an incredible eight years in the Premier League and we need to build for the future."

Wigan are bottom of our best defence table and Martinez feels this where their problems lie.

"You look at the stats and they tell you we conceded far too many goals," he added. "Going forward we were magnificent but the number of injuries we've had in the back line is something I've never seen before.

"You keep making chances at the back and you suffer. We gave points away and that's why we are where we are."

Wigan join Reading and QPR in going down to the Championship.