After overcoming the obstacle of Red Star Belgrade in the UEFA Cup game on Thursday night the Wanderers where looking to gain their first win against Wigan at the Reebok Stadium and they did so despite Nicolas Anelka missing a first half penalty.

Wigan had the opening chance of the game within the first sixty seconds when full back Emmerson Boyce made a good run down the right and his cross was headed over the crossbar by the much travelled Marcus Bent.

Within a couple of minutes Bolton found themselves ahead when a long ball by the on-loan Danny Guthrie was collected by El-Hadji Diouf on the flank. The teasing cross by the African evaded the head of Kevin Nolan but not Wigan midfielder Paul Scharnar who inadvertantly planted a header past his own goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.

It would be fair to say that Bolton had the upper hand in terms of possession in the opening quarter of an hour but they did not look to push on that bit further for the second goal and this proved costly.

A low cross from the right into the danger zone left Wanderers defender Abdoulaye Meite's at sixes and sevens and Dutch midfielder Denny Landzaat picked up the loose ball and placed it beyond Bolton custodian Jussi Jaaskelainen for the Wigan equaliser.

The Bolton left side was an area which Wigan where looking to exploit and once again they got an opportunity when England striker Emile Heskey knocked the ball into the path of Jason Koumas but the former West Brom and Tranmere Rovers man fired wide of goal.

On 24 minutes an El-Hadji Diouf corner was fired goalwards by Guthrie and in the melee the referee Martin Atkinson spotted a Wigan handball and awared Bolton the penalty.

With no Gary Speed on the pitch the penalty taking duties where awarded to Nicolas Anelka but the Trotters top goalscorer took one step and blazed over Kirkland's crossbar much to the amazement of the Reebok faithful.

Six minutes later Bolton full back Nicky Hunt saved the Wanderers bacon when he denied Emile Heskey the chance to put Wigan in front after Marcus Bent and Koumas had done well in the build up.

There was always a sense Bolton could have added to their goals tally for the afternoon and on 37 minutes a second home goal came courtesy of midfielder Kevin Nolan.

Hunt had played a delightful low pass into the feet of Anelka in the Wigan penalty area and the Frenchman, under pressure from Latics captain Kevin Kilbane, got the ball across to Nolan who bundled home past Kirkland for the second Wanderers goal.

Wigan still had some attacking prowess left in them and a few minutes before the break Jason Koumas flashed in a free kick which went just marginally by Jaaskelainen's post.

After the interval Kevin Davies played through Anelka but despite showing good pace and skill on the ball the Wanderers striker screwed his shot hopelessly wide and this lead to a series of Wigan corners.

Emile Heskey, Marcus Bent and goalscorer Landzaat all failed to take their opportunities whilst at the other end of the field Bolton's Diouf should have scored with a header which was eventually cleared by Emmerson Boyce.

Bolton's firm defending at the start of the second period paid dividends as the game came to its conclusion, Wigan became demoralised and on 70 minutes a neat free kick by Diouf from infield was met by the outstretched Davies for his first league goal of the season.

A minute later Wigan failed to deal with a Bolton corner but in turn skipper Nolan failed to make the Bolton advantage count when curling the the loose ball over the crossbar of Kirkland and into the Family Stand.

The Reebok had turned bitterly cold as the game had worn on but to their credit both sides kept plugging away and on 74 minutes Koumas fired in another Wigan free kick only this time straight into the arms of the grateful Jaaskelainen.

Wigan's supporters in the South Stand claimed for a penalty after Ivan Campo had issued a shove in the area but referee Atkinson stood firm and waved away the protest.

This helped Bolton kick on for a fourth goal in stoppage time and it was a well worked one at that, the forementioned Campo switched the ball from left to right to Davies and he delivered a perfect cross into the area for strike partner Anelka to finish the game off from close range.

Bolton must now travel the short journey to the City of Manchester Stadium next weekend to take on this season's surprise package Manchester City in yet another local derby.

BOLTON WANDERERS: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Nicky Hunt, Andy O'Brien, Abdoulaye Meite, Ricardo Gardner, Kevin Nolan (Stelios Giannakopoulos), Ivan Campo (Gary Soeed), Danny Guthrie, Kevin Davies, Nicolas Anelka, El-Hadji Diouf (Gavin McCann)

SUBS NOT USED: Lubomir Michalik, Ali Al-Habsi (GK)

WIGAN ATHLETIC: Chris Kirkland, Emmerson Boyce, Titus Bramble, Andreas Granqvist, Kevin Kilbane, Antonio Valencia, Paul Scharner, Jason Koumas, Marcus Bent, Emile Heskey (Michael Brown)

SUBS NOT USED: Ryan Taylor, David Cotterill, Josip Skoko, Mike Pollitt (GK)

ATTENDANCE:

20,309

REFEREE:

Martin Atkinson

BOOKED:

O'Brien (Bolton)

Valencia (Wigan)

Guthrie (Bolton)

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