Bolton 1-2 Latics

Wigan Athletic not only took the points in the battle of the basement on Saturday, but they also took the plaudits as they dominated the game from start to finish and looked a class apart from a sorry Bolton side.

A goal in each half from Gary Caldwell and James McArthur sandwiched Mark Davies' strike for the home side, as the Latics ran out worthy winners in a day that had a cup final feel about it.

With several hundred Latics fans walking the 7 miles from the DW Stadium to the Reebok in aid of local girl Emma Hoolin, the party had started quite early in the day, by kick off time at three the atmosphere amongst the away support was absolutely electric, and the players duly responded.

Slick moves and passing were the order of the day as the Latics tore into Bolton, Gary Caldwell was tremendous at the back and led by example, the centre midfield duo of the James' McCarthy and McArthur ran the show, whilst Jean Beausejour had yet again another good game, how quickly has he settled in?

The biggest surprise of the first half was that the opening goal took 43 minutes to arrive, Franco Di Santo, who had a cracking game, hit a 20 yard strike that Bogdan in the Bolton goal just managed to push round the post, Beausejour swung in the resultant corner and Gary Caldwell held off David Wheater to thunder an unstoppable header into the back of the net, 0-1

Bolton left the field at half-time to jeers and boos while the Latics went for their cuppa with a spring in their step.

The second half started in the same fashion as the first, McArthur had a great chance to make it 2-0 when set up by Moses but hit a shot straight at Bogdan and Boycey should have been awarded a penalty when dragged down in the box by Ryo, the Latics were well on top.

It was Bolton though who scored next, a great break through the middle by the Latics saw McCarthy play Moses in only for the assistant referee to wrongly flag the Latics striker off-side. Bolton keeper Adam Bogdan punted the free-kick up field, the ball struck Ngog on the back of his shoulder and dropped into the path of Mark Davies, the midfielder hit a first time effort that flew into the top corner giving Ali no chance, 1-1, 67minutes gone.

Bolton's equaliser had come totally against the run of play, the Latics soon got back in their stride though and following excellent work from Moses they were back in front just 9 minutes later. The young striker battled for the ball in midfield, having won possession he ran at the defence, took the ball into the area and hit a crisp low drive, Bogdan could only parry the ball which fell invitingly into the path of James McArthur, the Scotland international made no mistake from three yards burying the ball into the net, 1-2

Latics never looked in danger of losing the lead, when Howard Webb blew the final whistle the were scenes of jubilations amongst the away support and a great day had had a fitting end.

Gary Caldwell, simply magnificent, led by example

Man of the match performance from the Latics skipper

By permission of Bernard Platt/Wigan Athletic Bolton - Bogdan, Steinsson, Wheater, Knight, Ricketts, Eagles (Tuncay 58), Ngog, Reo-Coker, Petrov (Ryo 45), M Davies, K Davies (Klasnic 63).
Unused subs: Jaaskelainen, Pratley, Muamba, Boyata

Latics - Al-Habsi, Alcaraz, McCarthy, Caldwell, Di Santo (Jones 92), Moses, Gomez (Rodallega 74), McArthur, Boyce, Beausejour, Figueroa.

Unused subs: Nicholls, Crusat, Watson, Diame, Stam

Bolton Wanderers 1
Davies, M 67

Wigan Athletic 2
Caldwell 43
McArthur 76

















Latics and Proud



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