Wigan manager Roberto Martinez does not believe the return of former Latics boss Steve Bruce with Sunderland on Saturday will place any more significance on an already important match for his side.

Having been embarrassed 9-1 at Tottenham last weekend, with eight goals coming in the final 39 minutes as the Latics capitulated, Martinez is looking for a response from his players.

And the occasion of Bruce's first game at the DW Stadium since leaving in the summer makes no difference to the Spaniard.

"It is such an important game for us after what happened on Sunday that it doesn't need any extra spice," said Martinez.

"Steve comes back to a club where he had great success but from our point of view it is all about our reaction and our performance.

"It has been too hurtful a week to distract any attention and it doesn't need any add ons.

"We are so focused on our reaction and performance and showing our togetherness it doesn't matter who we are playing against."

'Extra spice' was introduced earlier in the week by chairman Dave Whelan who said Bruce had to take some of the blame for the Tottenham shambles as he had left Martinez with some "dodgy signings".

Added to that is the fact Bruce has already returned to the club to lure away midfielder Lee Cattermole - who is injured for Saturday's match - and is continually linked with a January move for Wigan left-back Maynor Figueroa.

But for Martinez his sole focus this week has been on the players he has at his disposal, rebuilding their shattered confidence and preparing them for Sunderland.

"In spells I've watched the DVD about nine or 10 times," said Martinez of the Spurs result.

"There were many things we didn't do well in the second half and we need to correct that.

"We could have lost 3-1 and nothing would have happened, it would just have been an accepted defeat by the outside world.

"But because the scoreline is what it is it highlights the problems and weaknesses we had this season.

"We need to make sure that never happens again and we improve those areas. It has been very good in training, it has been the right reaction, but you can only judge that on Saturday."

Martinez was critical of his players for the way they switched off and gave up at White Hart Lane but believes they are ready to make amends - having already stumped up cash to recompense fans who travelled to London last weekend.

"Sometimes you need to realise you have to maintain your standards and performance for 95 minutes," he added.

"We should not have allowed ourselves to accept we were out of the game - that is a sign of a lack of concentration.

"In these situations it separates men from boys. If you look down, try to look away from the reality, it is not the right way to approach it," he added.

"You are as good as your reaction to adversity but you can only be pleased after a performance against a Sunderland side who are going to test us.

"The players are ready to explode, to flush all the bad feeling out of their bodies.

"If the players weren't hurt or feel bad about what happened it would be a clear sign we have the wrong characters at the club.

"As individuals and collectively it is a huge test, but I have seen the character.

"And as a football club we are stronger now than we were on Sunday."