• Wigan Athletic completed the double over Bolton Wanderers and dented their promotion prospects with a hard -fought 1-0 victory at the DW Stadium.
• Wanderers enjoyed the greater possession and they went close when Eoin Toal headed over from a right-wing cross before seeing his long-range strike superbly tipped over the crossbar by Sam Tickle.
• The visitors continued to enjoy greater possession in the second half but they couldn’t penetrate a well drilled Latics defence.
• On 69 minutes Latics made the breakthrough when substitute Stephen Humphrys played a neat one-two with Luke Chambers before poking the ball past Joel Coleman.
• Latics could’ve added to their lead when Thelo Aasgaard’s volley forced a brilliant save from Coleman before another substitute, Martial Godo, fired just wide of the target.
• With two minutes remaining Ricardo Santos headed wide of the target from a good position and Latics secured another famous derby day victory against their local rivals.
• Latics remain in 13th place and Bolton in third place in the League One table.

Shaun Maloney made four changes to his side following Friday’s draw with Cheltenham Town. Charlie Hughes missed out through illness, whilst Scott Smith, Charlie Goode, Callum McManaman and Josh Magennis all came into the starting XI.

Kick off was delayed by 30 minutes following heavy traffic and a failure of the card machines in the car parking areas.

The visitors Josh Sheehan had the first attempt at goal when he fired over from 30 yards after five minutes.

Paris Maghoma then got in behind the Latics defence, but Luke Chambers did well to get back and block his shot as he was about to shoot.

In a frantic opening period a determined Callum McManaman was Latics best player and he drew two early bookings from Bolton players.

At the other end, Goode, Kerr and Chambers were showing their quality by keeping the visitors at bay.

But Toal did have two good chances to open the scoring when he headed over from a right-wing cross before seeing his long-range strike superbly tipped over the crossbar by Tickle.

0-0 at half-time.

Maloney brought Humphrys on for Magennis eight minutes into the second half.

Wanderers continued to enjoy the greater possession and they forced two more important saves from Tickle.

First he dived to his right to push Nathanael Ogbeta’s near post shot onto the woodwork before Sheehan then forced another save from the Tics keeper as he pushed his 20 yard effort wide.

Martial Godo replaced McManaman on 64 minutes and Latics started to probe the Wanderers defence.

On 69 minutes Latics were ahead when substitute Humphrys played a neat one-two with Luke Chambers before poking the ball past Joel Coleman.

The DW Stadium was jumping and Latics’ fans were ecstatic.

Two minutes later they could’ve been two up. As Godo’s cross was met by Thelo Aasgaard who acrobatically volleyed towards goal, but Coleman made a superb diving save.

Latics were dominant now and Godo nearly added to the lead when his shot from the centre of the box was narrowly wide of the post.

With two minutes of normal time remaining Santos had great chance to equalise but he headed wide of the target from a good position.

In four minutes of added time the visitors pressed for a late leveller, but Latics held out for the victory and cue scenes of derby day delight at the DW Stadium.

Overview

This was hard-fought victory for Latics against a Bolton team pushing for automatic promotion.

Latics had to dig deep and defend for a large portion of the game but in the end they might’ve won by two or three goals if Aasgaard and Godo had taken their chances when they were in the ascendancy.

Maloney has done a very good job in preparing his charges and he deserves great credit for his achievements this season.

If only Latics hadn’t been so harshly docked eight points by the EFL they would now be challenging for a play-off place.

It would have been quite an achievement for a team made up of Academy players, free transfers and loan signings to be challenging for promotion.

Given all Latics off the field problems and restrictions prior the start of the season, Maloney has certainly made a strong case for League One manager of the season.

Post match comments

Speaking to the media post-game, Maloney credited the players for their efforts on the night and ensured the Tics supporters went home full of pride. 

“It was pleasing in a very different way,” he said.

“The second half, particularly in the last half hour, we had to defend. I’ve spoken a lot about the mentality of the group.

“I almost challenged everyone – myself included – but the players tonight were incredible.

“We had five Academy graduates on the pitch – one of them being Callum McManaman, and I also relied on the senior boys.

“The players take everything tonight. They were incredible. 

“We had a big desire not to concede. Bolton are a good side, and with the way we set up today, we had to give them respect.

“I wanted to get more pressure on them in the first half but I loved what we did on the ball. When we scored, the mentality became to defend our lead. 

“The mentality of the group was really strong, and the players take every bit of credit tonight.”

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