Martinez hits out at transfer window

Martinez is favourite for the chop with bookies (Getty Images)

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez criticised the transfer window after watching his side finally get their season up and running with Carling Cup victory at Hartlepool.

Jordi Gomez struck a superb free-kick to add to an early own goal by Sam Collins while substitute Victor Moses wrapped up a 3-0 win in the dying minutes.

Martinez insisted he was no closer to clearing up the future of Charles N'Zogbia, whom he brought on for the last 11 minutes of what may be his final appearance for the Latics.

Martinez said: "Nobody knows - it's the nature of the transfer window. I think it's ridiculous to be in the start of the campaign playing competitive games and the window isn't even closed.

"At the moment we have a couple of players who are a little bit up in the air. They don't know where their future lies and that is going to affect you but that is the nature of the game."

But despite looking unconvincing in parts Martinez could not hide his relief at a morale-boosting win which was aided in the third minute by Collins' unfortunate header into his own net.

The unbeaten League One side showed plenty of spirit and almost equalised when Ali Al Habsi flapped at a long shot and Joe Gamble's rebound flew just wide.

And two minutes later space opened up for Gamble again who ran at the Wigan defence then unleashed a powerful 25-yard drive which Al Habsi did superbly to flap over the bar.

Martinez's men were suffering and relieved to see the final whistle, after which they regrouped to snuff out the threat from 'Pool who had entered the game undefeated this season.

Gomez finally brought the answer Martinez had been searching for when he rifled a 25-yard free-kick in off the bar in the 75th minute.

Then substitute Moses struck a long-range third before being helped off the field in the dying minutes with an ankle injury which took some gloss off Martinez's night.

Martinez added: "I am very pleased with many aspects. We showed energy and performance and we are starting to do things we were working on in the summer.

"In the Premier League we've been doing good things but at the wrong time. We did it at the right time and we are slowly gelling together."

Wigan's revival did not impress Hartlepool's caretaker-boss Mick Wadsworth who insisted: "If you'd have dropped down from Mars you'd struggle to know who the Premier League team was."