- Match Report: Wigan Athletic 5 – 2 Bolton Wanderers
- Goals from Joe Garner, Gavin Massey, Nick Powell, Michael Jacobs and Leon Clarke earn vital local derby victory for Latics.
- Gary O’Neil and Sammy Ameobi got goals back for Phil Parkinson’s side
WIGAN ATHLETIC 5
Garner 4
Massey 51
Powell 55
Jacobs 69
Clarke 81
BOLTON WANDERERS 2
O’Neil 62
Ameobi 79
Attendance: 13,664 (3,776 away)
Wigan Athletic reverted to type and produced their early season football to earn an important and convincing victory over local rivals Bolton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon.
Joe Garner gave Latics the lead before Gavin Massey and Nick Powell stretched Paul Cook’s side’s advantage early in the second-half. Gary O’Neil got one back for Bolton before Michael Jacobs made it 4-1. Sammy Ameobi added a second for Bolton but Leon Clarke headed in a fifth for Latics just a minute later.
Latics made three changes to their starting XI as Christian Walton, Nathan Byrne and Cedric Kipre came in for Jamie Jones, Lee Evans and Jonas Olsson.
Cook’s side couldn’t have got off to a better start as Reece James’ cross was headed in by Garner for his seventh goal of the campaign.
Former Latic Callum Connolly headed off target for a Gary O’Neil corner as the visitors searched for a response.
Latics could have doubled their lead before the break as Powell played Antonee Robinson in behind and the defender skipped a challenge before Remi Matthews made a superb low save to deny him. From the resulting corner, Chey Dunkley headed off target from a James delivery.
As half-time approached, Joe Williams saw a driven effort deflected wide for Bolton before O’Neil was denied when well-placed by a good save from Walton at his near post.
Like in the first-half, Cook couldn’t have wished for a better start from his side as Powell played in Massey and he finished with aplomb to double Latics’ advantage.
And within five minutes, it was 3-0 at Matthews was dispossessed by Garner and Powell was left to stroke the ball home into an empty net.
O’Neil immediately pulled a goal back for Bolton to make it 3-1, but the tension was only present for a matter of minutes as Jacobs broke and fired in superbly from 25 yards.
Connolly was denied again by Walton before Ameobi finished well for 4-2 in the driving rain at the DW.
It took just one minute for Latics to get their fifth, though, as Byrne’s cross was headed in by Clarke.
Byrne, who is yet to score for Latics, almost added the cherry on the cake as he carried the ball 40 yards and curled a brilliant effort off the post.
Latics: Walton, Byrne, Dunkley, Kipre, Robinson, Morsy (Capt), James, Massey (Gibson 82), Powell (Windass 70), Jacobs, Garner (Clarke 70)
Subs: Jones, McManaman, Naismith, Olsson
Bolton Wanderers: Matthews, Taylor (Capt), Lowe (Olkowski 7), Beevers, Donaldson (Ameobi 45), Buckley (Noone 82), Hobbs, Connolly, O'Neil, J.Williams, Magennis
Subs: B.Williams, Wilson, Wheater, Connell
