Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has attempted to deflect criticism away from his side following their 9-1 capitulation against Tottenham by aiming a swipe in the direction of former Latics boss Steve Bruce.

The Wigan chief gave his backing to Roberto Martinez after Sunday's humiliating result, and complimented Harry Redknapp's side, in particular five-goal hotshot Jermaine Defoe, who he tipped to similarly shine for England.

Martinez's side remain at the wrong end of the table, and are now winless in three, but Whelan refused to point the finger at Martinez, insisting that the Spaniard was totally committed to improving the Wigan cause.

"Roberto, even if we lose 1-0 or we don't play well, he worries about it, he will get up and over it," Whelan told Sky Sports News.

"9-1 is a serious, serious defeat and we have got to get our heads up and I am sure Roberto will be working on the lads now to get them going again and get their heads back in the air and get some pride back in Wigan Athletic."

More surprising was Whelan's decision to name departed Latics boss Steve Bruce as the real culprit for their defeat, astonishingly surmising that Martinez has his work cut out with the players that Bruce left him at the DW Stadium.

"He has got a difficult time, he inherited a team that was a little bit weak on reserves when Steve [Bruce] left."

"Steve actually had a few dodgy signings just before he left Wigan and he has inherited those dodgy signings so I can't blame Roberto one iota."

Considering those 'dodgy signings' include the Latics' top-scorer Hugo Rodallega, who has been in sensational form this season, and Wilson Palacios, who cost Spurs £14million in January, Whelan's comments are a bit rich to say the least.

Nothing but a cheap dig at his former manager, who opted to take up the reigns at Sunderland in the summer, after guiding Wigan to a more-than-respectable eleventh place finish in the Premier League last season.

A bad workman...