Martinez plans to battle on as he becomes favourite to win sack race

Wigan Athletic's embattled young manager Roberto Martinez believes he can survive the blitz of goals which has endangered a career which sparkled with promise after some showcase victories last season.

Martinez, appointed after impressive work at Swansea and hugely popular from his playing days in Wigan, insists that he will fight on without compromising the playing style which brought wins over such as Chelsea – Saturday's 6-0 conquerors – Liverpool and Arsenal.

Saturday's Chelsea defeat, though, was a devastating blow coming after the opening-day collapse against newly promoted Blackpool – and an 8-0 romp by Chelsea in the final league game of last season.

Martinez insists the club, whose most talented player, Charles N'Zogbia has been embroiled in transfer speculation, will stabilise when the window closes at the end of the month. "Once the transfer window is closed our squad will be finalised and we can work on a day-by-day basis," he declares.

"In the meantime I will not be abandoning our style of football. I was proud of the way we played against a great team in the first half and when we let it slip in the last 15 minutes that wasn't about our style of football. It was about concentration and character, and we will work on that."

This is assuming he keeps the confidence of chairman Dave Whelan. They spoke after the game but without, apparently, any firm conclusions. The bookmakers are less optimistic than Martinez. They make him the 9-4 favourite to feel the first wielding of this new season's Premier League axe.