Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

BOLTON WANDERERS vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 20^th September 2025

BOLTON SWEEP LATICS ASIDE IN HIGH TEMPO LOCAL DERBY.

It was a disappointing afternoon for Wigan Athletic, as they fell to a heavy defeat against Bolton Wanderers.

A sold-out away following made the short trip to the Toughsheet Community Stadium, but their efforts went unrewarded as goals from Thierry Gale, Marcus Forss (2), and Mason Burstow handed the Wanderers a comprehensive victory, despite a second-half strike from Paul Mullin.

Ryan Lowe made one change from their last league outing, with Latics Academy graduate Baba Adeeko replacing Callum Wright in the starting line-up. Bolton made two changes from their last-minute draw at Leyton Orient, with Ethan Erahahon and Forss coming in for Aaron Morley and Joel Randall. Former Latics loanee George Johnston was to wear the captains’ armband, while ex-Bolton defender Will Aimson wore the armband for Wigan.

With both sets of supporters contributing to a fierce atmosphere, it was Latics who started the Derby Day clash with real intent, winning a succession of early corners that were well defended by the hosts. At the other end, Thierry Gale was released down Latics' right-hand side, but Tickle raced quickly from his line to snuff out the danger. Tickle then came to Latics' rescue again in the 11th minute, racing out to close down the oncoming Amario Cozier-Duberry, playing the ball back off the Wanderers winger for a goal-kick.

Having threatened with a 25-yard strike, GALE broke the deadlock for the hosts in the 15th minute when he fired home from a Josh Dacres-Cogley cross which was only pushed into the danger area by the Wigan keeper and the winger fired home emphatically. The now rampant Wanderers, roared on by home fans, scented blood and they made it two inside 20 minutes when Gale again raced down the left wing with Sessegnon out of position and he squared for FORSS to apply a first-time finish.

Tickle continued to be by far the busier keeper as he dealt with strikes from Gale and Cozier-Duberry. Latics looked lost as they chased shadows and tried to avoid more concessions before half-time. Bolton did however treble their lead three minutes before the break when Latics coughed up possession far too easily in midfield and BURSTOW produced an unstoppable drive from distance that flew into the net via the foot of the post. 

Latics, to their credit, did try to hit back before the break, with Murray lifting the ball over a defender and seeing his strike blocked, before Hungbo tested Teddy Sharman-Lowe with a volley from an uncleared corner.

Half Time; Bolton Wanderers 3-0 Wigan Athletic.

Ryan Lowe made three changes at the break as he reverted to a back four as he looked to engineer a way back into the game, but that all fell apart when Bolton added to their advantage in the 49^th minute when FORSS capitalised on a series of appalling defensive errors that ended with a short headed back pass that allowed the Bolton man to pounce.

Wigan grabbed a consolation goal when MULLIN pulled one back with a lovely curling strike.

The introduction of Raphael Bogues Rodrigues led to a brief Latics rally in front of the sold-out away end, but the home side saw the game out with relative ease to condemn Latics to their first defeat at the Toughsheet Community Stadium since January 2015. 

Full Time: Bolton Wanderers 4-1 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Mullin (53); Gale (15), Forss (20), (49), Burstow (42).

Attendance; 25,565

Wigan Athletic (3-5-2) --- Tickle; Fox, Sessegnon, Aimson; Murray, M. Smith, Trevitt, Adeeko, Hungbo; Mullin, Costelloe; Subs--- Savin (G), Wright (for Smith), Borges Rodrigues (for Hungbo), Cooper, Asamoah (for Adeeko), Robinson (for Costelloe), McManaman (for Sessegnon).

Bolton Wanderers (4-2-3-1) ---- Sharman-Lowe; Cacres-Cogley, Forino-Joseph, Johnston, Conway; Erhahron, Simons; Gale, Forss, Cozier-Duberry; Burstow; Subs---Miller (G), Morley (for Erhahon), Dalby (for Forss), Cissoko (for Gale), Sheehan (for Burstow), Toal, Randall

Referee; Mr. Benjamin Speedie (Merseyside).