Kevin Kilbane is confident Titus Bramble, his Wigan Athletic team-mate, will bounce back from his latest costly blunder.

Bramble set Wigan on the road to defeat in yesterday’s 2-1 loss to Everton at the JJB Stadium by mis-kicking an attempted back-pass to gift striker Andrew Johnson the opening goal of the game.

It is not the first time Bramble has cost Wigan points this season as he committed a mistake in the opening seconds of Steve Bruce’s first game in charge at home to Manchester City. Wigan recovered to salvage a 1-1 draw from that game, but his latest gaffe yesterday again put the 26-year-old back in the spotlight, having previously endured an at-times tortured spell with Newcastle United.

Bruce maintains greater concentration is required from Bramble if he is to go on and become a great defender. Kilbane, for his part, maintains none of the Wigan players blame him and will continue to show their support.

“It’s one of those things, although I’m sure he’ll be disappointed from his own point of view,” Kilbane said. “But we’ll rally round him and lift him, and he’ll bounce back.

“He has been one of our better players this season, and people who watch us a lot realise that. Unfortunately, when Titus makes a mistake, it gets highlighted more than anybody else.

“But in saying that, he has done so well for us this season, even against Everton. You can’t get round him because he is so strong and quick. Maybe the pitch didn’t help. Sometimes you just put the ball in the stand, and then you just deal with it.”