The Latics have established their reputation under Martinez for a fluid passing game, however the Spaniard believes the lack of a harder edge has proved costly this season.
Wigan have kept just four league clean sheets so far this term - remarkably all of them have come away from home - with the latest a 3-0 win at Reading yesterday that pulled them out of the bottom three.
Reading had taken 10 points from the past 15 on offer but failed to get a shot on target as Arouna Kone's double added to a rare Maynor Figueroa strike banked the points.
While delighted to grab a first league win of 2013, Martinez was keener still to stress the importance of his side's defensive display as they look to beat the drop yet again.
"I would say defensively it was as good as it gets," he said. "Defensively you know you are going to play against a Reading side that are strong, especially in the dead-ball situations. We dealt with that really well.
"We have to keep improving but to keep a clean sheet away from home, especially at the Madejski Stadium, is pleasing.
"Since they've changed tactically they have become a very difficult side to restrict.
"So that clean sheet pleases me as much as any defensive display this season.
"We have to make sure we replicate this level until the end of the season."
Martinez brought Paul Scharner back to the club last month and, while that raised some eyebrows, the veteran proved how vital his know-how in a relegation fight could be yesterday.
Most notably the versatile Austrian, who lined-up at centre-back alongside Gary Caldwell, denied Pavel Pogrebnyak with a perfectly-timed diving challenge before Wigan had scored.
"That concentration and responsibility in the box was very pleasing," Martinez said.
"Our attacking composure and quality was again good. We have been showing that this season. But we never had that clinical way of defending and keeping a clean sheet."
Victory was Wigan's second on the bounce after they booked their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 4-1 win at Huddersfield last weekend.
Those victories have come after the club went to Tenerife for some warm-weather training that Martinez believes could be a turning point.
"After the warm-weather training I think we have re-focused," he said.
"The first game back was against Huddersfield in the FA Cup. You have seen a large amount of players representing the club in both games.
"You can see our competitive edge, a focus and a real responsibility in the performance.
"It is a matter of keeping a winning feeling and keeping those standards.
"This was the last game in February and for us to be involved in two competitions is a good position to be in.
"We have to concentrate on winning our trophy in the league which is staying in this division, and every game is vital."
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