Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez was delighted with Ben Watson's show of nerve to net their equaliser against Stoke City.

Martinez was in no doubt he had made the correct decision in introducing Watson after the midfielder converted an 87th-minute penalty with his first touch to rescue a valuable point against Stoke.

Watson came off the bench to send Thomas Sorensen the wrong way after Ryan Shotton had been penalised for a tug on Hugo Rodallega's shirt.

Asked whether he had taken a gamble by bringing on Watson to take such a crucial spot-kick, Martinez replied: "In football, it's not (a case of) being brave, it's trying to do the right things.

"Taking a penalty is something of a specialist (task) and we have got two specialists at the club; Jordi Gomez and Ben Watson.

"Jordi Gomez wasn't on the pitch at that time and it would have been very unfair, or a big gamble, to put another player in that position."

Watson had missed his previous two penalties, but made no mistake on this occasion.

"Only the players who take the penalties can miss," Martinez continued. "The important thing is you get a specialist in that situation.

"Ben Watson, for me, is technically one of the best players in English football and that's his forte; his concentration. The big thing is he showed that he was ready for the team. I had a real belief and confidence in him."