Roberto Martinez backs Bobby Zamora dismissal

Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez believes that referee Phil Dowd was right to send off Bobby Zamora during Sunday's stalemate with Queens Park Rangers.

Shaun Maloney's last-gasp free kick rescued the Latics a 1-1 draw in stoppage time after Loic Remy had put the hosts ahead at Loftus Road five minutes from time.

The Hoops were forced to play with 10 men from the 21st minute after Zamora caught Jordi Gomez with a dangerous, high challenge, and Martinez feels that Dowd had no choice but to show the former a red card.

"If anything, the sending-off went against us. We are a team that enjoy having the ball and we can open teams up but we made it a hard task," Martinez told Sky Sports News.

"It was a horrific challenge. I know Bobby Zamora is not a dirty player but Jordi Gomez is very fortunate - he could have been majorly injured.

"It was the right decision. As much as you don't want to see red cards, that was as much a red card as you are going to see."

The draw has seen Wigan slip into the Premier League relegation zone on goal difference with seven games left to play.