• Wigan Athletic’s ten year domination at Bolton Wanderers came to an end with a very disappointing 4-1 defeat at the Toughsheet Stadium.
• The Trotters last home league victory over Latics was in January 2015 and they had lost the last three by a 10-0 aggregate.
• But on this occasion Latics were not at the races and they were outplayed by Bolton who were 3-0 up at half time.
• Thierry Gale put Wanderers ahead after 15 minutes and then provided an assist for Marcus Forss just five minutes later.
• Latics were in complete disarray and Mason Burstow made it 3-0 with a superb low strike after 42 minutes.
• Ryan Lowe made three changes at the break and Latics started better but a disastrous back header by Morgan Fox set up Forss for his second goal and Bolton’s fourth.
• Paul Mullin produced a fine finish for Latics on 54 minutes, but they were unable to reduce the arrears further after a very below par performance.
• Latics drop to 12th and Bolton move up to tenth in the League One table.

Lowe made one change from the victory against Doncaster with Baba Adeeko replacing Callum Wright in the starting line-up.

Latics started the Derby with a succession of early corners but Sam Tickle soon had to come to Latics rescue when he denied Gale.

Tickle had to be on his toes again in the 11th minute, racing out to close down the oncoming Amario Cozier-Duberry and winning a goal kick.

But Latics were looking vulnerable and the Trotters were ahead in the 15th minute

The visitors were caught down the right flank and Josh Dacres-Cogley crossed for Gale to finish from inside the box.

The hosts made it two inside 20 minutes as Latics were this time exposed down the left flank as Gale crossed for the unmarked Forss to finish from ten-yards out.

Latics were under the cosh and Tickle did well with strikes from Gale and Cozier-Duberry from the edge of the box but Wanderers added a third three minutes before the break when Burstow produced a superb strike from 20-yards into the bottom right corner.

The visitors started the second half on the front foot with Fraser Murray lifting the ball over a defender and seeing his strike blocked, before Hungbo tested Teddy Sharman-Lowe with a volley.

But just when it looked like Latics might get back into the game Fox disastrously back headed the ball into the path of Forss who finished with ease.

Mullin produced a fine curled finish from 18-yards on 54 minutes, but it was little consolation for Latics as their ten year domination in Bolton came to an end.

Overview

Latics were strangely out of sorts for this Derby Day clash. It was a very un-Latics like performance against their local rivals. 

They were missing their captain Jason Kerr but those who played did not give a good account of themselves.

Lowe’s preferred formation with three at the back and wingbacks was cruelly exposed by Wanderers wingers. The Latics manager reverted to a back four in the second half but it was too late to save the game.

Lowe’s men were hesitant from the kick off and Tickle had to make early saves before Gale put the Wanderers ahead.

Acting captain Will Aimson had a particularly bad day and Fox gifted Wanderers their fourth goal.

Worryingly if it was not for the heroics of Tickle it could’ve been a five or six goal defeat. Only Tickle and Mullin emerged with much credit on a dispiriting afternoon.

Lowe may well have to adjust his wing back formation and play a back four against some of the stronger teams in the division if they are not suffer as they did at Bolton.

The manager will also be expecting a massive improvement for this week’s Carabao Cup game against Wycombe and Saturday’s League One encounter against Cardiff City.

Post match comments

Speaking post-game, Lowe gave an honest assessment and apologised to the 3,483 travelling supporters and explained how his focus is on ensuring that his side bounces back. 

“We’ll assess it tomorrow, but what I will say is the goals are definitely avoidable,” he told the media.

“To start the way we did and concede those goals and be 3-0 down, we had to then make changes and change shape. The fourth goal just summed it up – it was a calamity, and that’s not what we’re about.  

“It’s tough on the fans and players, but we cannot dwell on it too much. We’ll have an opportunity to hopefully put this right in a few months time when we play them (Bolton) again, which is the only bit I can take from that game.

“For us, we’ve now got to go again. The performance from each and every player wasn’t good enough. 

“We don’t get gifted opportunities in the way we gifted opportunities to them. I have just addressed it with the lads, asked them their questions, and they gave me their answers, which is good. 

“They know they weren’t up to the levels, but it’s one game. It’s one we can’t do again, and we need to make sure next time that we are better. 

“To dwell on it would be cynical from our side. My job is to pick the lads up, and go again. 

“I always apologise – it’s on me. I am the Head Coach, and I am big enough and brave enough to do that. I apologise on behalf of everyone at the Football Club, in terms of the players, especially. They (the fans) were there in their numbers today, and we want to send them home happy in derby games like that. “I’ll always apologise to the fans when I think the performance is nowhere near what I like and what they like.

“Thanks for your support – it’s been excellent and we want that to continue. We will find a formula to get us points away from home.

“It’s disappointing – I apologise on behalf of the players and staff – but we can’t dwell on it too much. We’ve got to go again.” 

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