Wigan Athletic claimed a crucial three points in their bid to avoid relegation from Sky Bet League One, as they beat Bolton Wanderers 2-1 in a thrilling derby match on Tuesday night. The Latics, who had lost their previous four games, showed great character and resilience to overcome a spirited Bolton side, who had taken the lead in the first half through Eoin Doyle.
The hosts equalised just before the break, when Charlie Kelman scored his first goal for the club with a superb volley from the edge of the box. The second half was a tense and exciting affair, with both teams creating chances and testing the goalkeepers. However, it was Wigan who found the winner in the 83rd minute, when Jonny Smith curled a brilliant free-kick into the top corner, sending the home fans into ecstasy.
The victory lifted Wigan out of the bottom four, while Bolton remained in the play-off places, despite suffering their first defeat in six games. The match was also a memorable occasion for Wigan defender Jason Kerr, who made his 300th career appearance.
Shaun Maloney praises his players for their performance and spirit
Wigan manager Shaun Maloney was delighted with his team’s performance and spirit, as they fought back from a goal down to beat their rivals. He praised the quality of the goals scored by Kelman and Smith, and the defensive solidity of his back four, especially new signing Charlie Goode, who made his debut for the club.
Maloney said: “It was a fantastic win for us, and I’m very proud of the players. They showed great character and determination to come back from a goal down and win the game. We scored two wonderful goals, and we defended very well, especially in the second half. Charlie Goode was excellent on his debut, he fitted in very well with the rest of the defence, and he showed his leadership and experience. I’m very happy for him and for the whole team.”
Maloney also thanked the fans for their support and urged them to keep backing the team in their fight for survival. He said: “The fans were amazing, they created a great atmosphere and they pushed us on. They were behind us all the way, and they deserved to celebrate at the end. We need them to keep supporting us, because we have a lot of important games ahead, and we need to stick together as a club.”
Bolton Wanderers rue missed chances and controversial decisions
Bolton Wanderers manager Darrell Clarke was frustrated with his team’s defeat, as he felt they had enough chances to win the game and were denied a penalty in the second half. He also criticised the referee for his decisions, especially for awarding Wigan the free-kick that led to their winning goal.
Clarke said: “I’m very disappointed with the result, because I thought we played well and we created a lot of chances. We should have scored more than one goal, and we should have had a penalty when Eoin Doyle was brought down in the box. The referee didn’t give it, and he gave them a soft free-kick for their second goal. I don’t think it was a foul, and I don’t think it was in a dangerous position. It was a great strike by Jonny Smith, but it shouldn’t have happened.”
Clarke also praised his players for their effort and attitude, and said they would bounce back from the setback. He said: “The players gave everything, and they showed a lot of quality and character. They didn’t deserve to lose, but that’s football. We have to take it on the chin and move on. We’re still in a good position in the table, and we have a lot of games to play. We’ll regroup and we’ll go again on Saturday.”
