Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs BOLTON WANDERERS

 17^th January 2026

SHOT SHY LATICS DRAWN INTO RELEGATION BATTLE WITH DERBY DEFEAT.

It was a disappointing Derby Day for Latics, who lost out 1-0 to Bolton Wanderers and slid into the relegation dogfight.              

Wigan had been keen to gain revenge on their local rivals following a heavy defeat in the reverse fixture back in September.     

Ryan Lowe opted to name an unchanged eleven for the early Saturday kick-off and stayed with the sane team that produced a good win against Preston.     

Steven Schumacher’s Whites made seven changes from the side that lost out to Port Vale in the EFL Cup on Tuesday. Eoin Toal, Jordi Osei-Tutu, George Johnston and Max Conway all returning alongside Chris Forino-Joseph defensively, who retained his spot. New signing Jack Bonham was immediately called upon in between the sticks after his January switch from Stoke City and made his first start. Meanwhile, in forward areas, Amario Cozier-Duberry and Mason Burstow were reintroduced to the starting eleven, either side of Sam Dalby.                               

After lively opening exchanges in the first ten minutes, it was Schumacher’s men who had the first sight at goal, and it was one that Latics were fortunate to get away with.                                 

A long-range effort from was pushed out by Sam Tickle, his parry fell right into the path of Burstow, who, from close range, could only drag his strike wide.

Bolton now started to dominate possession and Latics were now feeding on scraps. Tickle once more was called into action when Conway got onto the end of a deep cross from the right, though his header was well blocked by the goalkeeper who made himself big and blocked the downward header with his foot.

From that point on, there was little by way of goalmouth action for either side. Lowe’s side certainly grew into the contest and defended well, but they were unable to test debutant Bonham in the visitor’s goal.                                                                                                                                    

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Bolton Wanderers.

The second half continued in the same laboured manner with both attacks struggling to create. Om the hour mark it was Schumacher’s team who again threatened their opposing goalkeeper. A smart turn to free himself inside the box from Burstow saw the forward flash in a low cross to where Dalby was ready and anticipating, but his first-time attempt was too strong and flew over the bar from close range.                                                                                                             

Wigan captain James Carragher looked to take matters into his own hands for Latics by adding his weight to the attack with a marauding run that saw him burst forward, but his efforts ultimately came to nothing. Bolton continued to pass the ball around and the Wigan midfield continued to work hard to close down the spaces but legs were getting weary and Bolton forced the first save out of Tickle in the second period when a whipped cross from the left was met with a sharp header by Dalby who directed his effort towards the bottom corner and only the alert Tickle was able to get down and parry the ball to safety.                                                        

The game seemed to spark back to life inside the final 15 minutes and Latics should have grabbed the lead when Callum Wright on the left squared to Bettoni who produced a close-range snapshot that curled agonisingly wide.              

The Bettoni miss was to prove crucial as in a tense finale SHEEHAN tried his luck from twenty yards and for once Tickle misjudged the swerving shot and the ball flew into the roof of the home goal.                                                                                                         

Bolton played out the remaining time by holding possession and Wigan simply could not manage to build any attacking momentum despite a number of late substitutions.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 0-1 Bolton Wanderers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Scorer;           Sheehan (82).                            

Attendance; 15,121

Wigan Athletic (3-4-2-1) --- Tickle; Aimson, Carragher, Fox; Hungbo, Weir, M. Smith, Raphael; Wright, Bettoni; Costelloe; Subs--- Savin (G), Saydee (for Bettoni), Taylor (for Costelloe), Francois (for Smith), Murray (for Wright), McManaman (for Hungbo), Sessegnon.

Bolton Wanderers (3-4-3) ---- Bonham; Toal, Forino, Johnston; Osei-Tutu, Sheehan, Simons, Conway; Cozier-Duberry, Dalby, Burstow, Subs--- Gale, Morley, Erhahon, Dempsey (for Simons), Harrington (G), Christie, McAtee (for Burstow)

Referee; Mr. Stephen Martin (Staffordshire).