If Latics were facing Aston Villa at home Saturday I'd be writing about the kind of result that could turn the club's season around. Instead, Martinez's men travel to Villa Park for one of the more unpredictable fixtures of the season.

Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesWigan manager Roberto Martinez needs to get the referees on his side

After an encouraging run of form including a convincing away win at Anfield, Paul Lambert's team conceded 12 goals the last two matches. Chelsea and Spurs -- the victors -- are coincidentally also responsible for Wigan's heaviest Premier League defeats in Roberto Martinez's early days at the club. The capitulations by Villa's young team bore many similarities to the drubbings of Wigan - inexperience and lack of tactical cohesion, a team at the beginning of a new cycle.

So whose morale is more firmly rooted in the gutter?

While Wigan's results of late have been poor, all losses were close, and recent ones tinged with the injustice of penalty decisions going the wrong way. It is no coincidence that the bottom three all suffered from harsh treatment from referees in the past week.

Reading conceded a last-minute goal last Saturday when Manchester City's Gareth Barry fouled his defender; QPR goalkeeper Robert Green did not receive protection from the officials when conceding the second goal to West Brom on Boxing Day. When you're down there, things don't seem to go your way.

But Wigan's performance level against Arsenal and Everton was good, and players are starting to return from injury. Gary Caldwell got better as the game went along Wednesday, and Ivan Ramis was on the bench suggesting he is near full fitness. All things points to improvement.

The question, of course, is which Villa will turn up?

Prediction: Latics finally get something from officials.

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