Heskey volleyed home on 33 minutes for his first goal since the middle of August and the effort proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Referee Steve Tanner was largely inconsistent throughout the game with many of his decisions, but one which he got right was the fourth minute dismissal of Wigan midfielder Jason Koumas for a wild lunge on Wanderers centre half Gary Cahill.

Wigan kept up their momentum despite the numerical disadvantage and winger Antonio Valencia nearly gave them the lead on eight minutes when steaming in at the far post only for the Bolton rearguard to foil the South American with a fine block.

On 20 minutes eventual matchwinner Heskey rose well in the area to head a Valencia cross just wide of Ali Al-Habsi's right hand post and Bolton could not find any response as an attacking unit.

In fact, it was a poor Wanderers display throughout, despite many of the players having had a rest in either one or both of the UEFA Cup ties with Sporting Lisbon.

Wigan midfielder Wilson Palacios put Bolton under further pressure shortly before the half hour, firstly with a shot which was blocked by Cahill and then Premiership debutant Al-Habsi tipped a second effort away for a corner.

The visitors finally got an effort in on Chris Kirkland's goal when El-Hadji Diouf headed a Gretar Steinsson cross just wide and from the resulting goal kick the Latics found themselves back in the ascendancy.

Striker Marlon King, a Wigan recruit from Watford in the January transfer window, swung for a shot in a packed penalty area but fortunately for Bolton their defensive duo of Andy O'Brien and Steinsson managed to clear the danger.

The resulting corner saw Paul Scharnar's header cleared off the line by Ivan Campo much to the releif of his fellow Bolton team mates who had been riding their luck.

Moments later Wigan got their noses in front when the goal shy Heskey finished with aplomb with a volley from around the penalty area.

It was no more than the home side deserved because they had remained positive even though they had suffered a setback with the early Koumas dismissal.

Seven minutes before the break Bolton thought they had drawn back on level terms through Diouf from close range but referee Tanner and his assistants blew for a foul in the build up.

Bolton's misery continued shortly before the break when Israeli midfielder Tamir Cohen was helped off the pitch after spending a couple of minutes flat out in the opposing penalty box.

Cohen was surprisingly replaced by the on-loan Grzegorz Rasiak as Bolton looked for more options in the final third but the Polish international's introduction could not inspire a good end to the half despite him going close with a diving header from Diouf's cross which was straight at Kirkland.

After half time had finished the Wanderers made another change, this time with midfielder Joey O'Brien coming on the field on the right wing in place of Diouf who was already on a yellow card for dissent.

It was a bit better, but not much from Wanderers perspective, as they looked for an improved performance in the second half but Matt Taylor, usually famed for his strong shooting, fired a weak shot which was comfortable for Kirkland to gather low.

Skipper Kevin Nolan nearly went one better in the 47th minute but the midfielder despatched his shot from a few yards out straight at Kirkland after a header into the area from substitute Rasiak had caught out the Wigan defence.

Bolton went close for a third time, this instance came with a helping hand from Scharnar who's blushes where spared when team mate Emmerson Boyce stopped the Austrian from scoring an own goal.

Gary Megson's men should have had a penalty when Kevin Davies shot came off the arm of midfielder Michael Brown who was on the line but man in the middle Tanner waved away the furious protests from a number of Bolton players.

Ivan Campo's free kick and another Taylor effort threatened the home defence albeit half heartedly and Wanderers afternoon took another turn for the worst when star man Cahill, suffering from an earlier injury, had to go off and be replaced by Gavin McCann.

The two O'Brien's, Steinsson and Gardner formed the visitors rearguard for the final twenty minutes of the game with McCann taking up his usual midfield role.

McCann's battling qualities had been missed in a game of this context and he wasted no time in making his presence known on Valencia.

A second Bolton goal was converted by Nolan with five minutes to go but the officials brought the play back after viewing the midfielder in an offside position.

Bolton must now travel to the Premiership holders Manchester United on Wednesday evening and this will be followed by successive home games against Manchester City and Arsenal.

BOLTON WANDERERS: Ali Al-Habsi, Gretar Steinsson, Gary Cahill (Gavin McCann), Andy O'Brien, Ricardo Gardner, Kevin Nolan, Ivan Campo, Tamir Cohen (Grzegorz Rasiak), El-Hadji Diouf (Joey O'Brien), Kevin Davies, Matthew Taylor

SUBS NOT USED: Abdoulaye Meite, Ian Walker (GK)

WIGAN ATHLETIC: Chris Kirkland, Mario Melchiot, Emmerson Boyce, Paul Scharnar, Erik Edman, Antonio Valencia, Wilson Palacios (Ryan Taylor), Michael Brown, Jason Koumas, Marlon King (Kevin Kilbane), Emile Heskey

SUBS NOT USED: Antoine Sibierski, Titus Bramble, Mike Pollitt (GK)

ATTENDANCE:

17,055

REFEREE:

Steve Tanner

BOOKED:

Diouf (Bolton)

Palacios (Wigan)

Gardner (Bolton)

McCann (Bolton)

Taylor (Wigan)

SENT OFF:

Koumas (Wigan)

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon