Played
February 11, 2012 3:00 PM GMT
Reebok Stadium — Bolton
Referee: H. Webb
Attendance: 23450
February 11, 2012 3:00 PM GMT
Reebok Stadium — Bolton
Referee: H. Webb
Attendance: 23450
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bolton | 41.00 | 2.05 | 2.10 | 50.00 | 2.12 |
| Draw | 7.00 | 3.40 | 3.30 | 6.00 | 3.40 |
| Wigan | 1.12 | 3.60 | 3.60 | 1.12 | 3.75 |
Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Wigan Athletic: Late James McArthur winner settles vital relegation dogfight
Latics secure third win on the road with late McArthur strike to take the bragging rights over their Lancashire rivals
By A lex Fisher at the Reebok Stadium
Getty Images
Wigan Athletic secured only their fourth win of the season with a battling 2-1 victory over Bolton to close the gap between them and the rest at the bottom of the table.
The visitors dominated possession in a game that lacked a lot of quality but was full of hard work and determination.
Gary Caldwell gave the Latics the lead in the 43rd minute as he rose above David Wheater to head past Adam Bogdan, the home side equalised through a wonder strike from Mark Davies just after the hour mark but a James McArthur tap-in with 14 minutes to go won the game for the visitors, who take the bragging rights over their local rivals.
Bolton recalled captain Kevin Davies to the starting line-up for the first time since mid-December as Owen Coyle rested Fabrice Muamba in favour of a more attacking line-up. Tyrone Mears also missed out having started against Norwich, the full back was replaced by Gretar Steinsson. However there was no place in the squad for new signings Tim Ream and Marvin Sordell, but on-loan youngster Ryo Miyaichi was named as a substitute.
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez made just one change from the side that drew with Everton as Antolin Alcaraz returned in place of Ronnie Stam who dropped to the bench. New signing Jean Beausejour started again for the Latics with Franco Di Santo the man chosen by Martinez to lead the line at the expense of Hugo Rodallega who started on the bench.
The game began at a lively pace with both teams looking confident going forward, however they have both lacked that little bit of quality in front of goal. Wigan's passing and movement was much better than their hosts but David Wheater had the game’s first chance but he headed a Martin Petrov corner over the bar.
With 14 minutes played the game had its first real opening for the visitors as they broke on the counter attack after a Bolton chance had been wasted. Di Santo nodded down a long ball from Emmerson Boyce to James McCarthy, the Irishman spread the ball to Victor Moses on the left wing, he twisted and turned his way into the penalty area but his left foot shot hit the side netting.
The half struggled after the lively opening quarter with neither side threatening the goal despite some nice build-up play in the middle of the pitch. However with seconds of the first half remaining the visitors took the lead from a set piece after some shocking marking from Bolton’s David Wheater.
Beausejour fired a corner in from the left hand side and Caldwell rose above Wheater to head past Adam Bogdan from five yards to send the visiting support wild and make Martinez’s half time team talk a little bit easier.
With the second half only minutes old Wigan nearly doubled their lead through Emmerson Boyce, the full back would have been an unlikely scorer but after Zat Knight failed to clear a cross the ball dropped to Boyce but from 15 yards out he dragged his shot wide.
On the hour more good interplay from Wigan saw McArthur release Moses into the area, the winger cut the ball back to the Scot but his low shot was straight at Bogdan who saved easily.
Bolton punished that miss by getting themselves back into the game in the 67th minute through Mark Davies. A long ball from Bogdan struck David Ngog on the back and the loose fell perfectly to Davies, who fired a left foot piledriver into the top corner - giving Al-Habsi no chance.
However, the home side were only level for nine minutes as the visitors retook the lead following a lethal counter attack.
Substitute Hugo Rodallega combined with Moses on the left, the winger raced towards goal and although his shot was parried by Bogdan, the ball fell right into the path of McArthur, who made no mistake from five yards.
With the game nearing its conclusion the home side thought they had levelled but Al-Habsi made a fantastic save from substitute Miyaichi.
The visitors dominated possession in a game that lacked a lot of quality but was full of hard work and determination.
Gary Caldwell gave the Latics the lead in the 43rd minute as he rose above David Wheater to head past Adam Bogdan, the home side equalised through a wonder strike from Mark Davies just after the hour mark but a James McArthur tap-in with 14 minutes to go won the game for the visitors, who take the bragging rights over their local rivals.
Bolton recalled captain Kevin Davies to the starting line-up for the first time since mid-December as Owen Coyle rested Fabrice Muamba in favour of a more attacking line-up. Tyrone Mears also missed out having started against Norwich, the full back was replaced by Gretar Steinsson. However there was no place in the squad for new signings Tim Ream and Marvin Sordell, but on-loan youngster Ryo Miyaichi was named as a substitute.
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez made just one change from the side that drew with Everton as Antolin Alcaraz returned in place of Ronnie Stam who dropped to the bench. New signing Jean Beausejour started again for the Latics with Franco Di Santo the man chosen by Martinez to lead the line at the expense of Hugo Rodallega who started on the bench.
The game began at a lively pace with both teams looking confident going forward, however they have both lacked that little bit of quality in front of goal. Wigan's passing and movement was much better than their hosts but David Wheater had the game’s first chance but he headed a Martin Petrov corner over the bar.
With 14 minutes played the game had its first real opening for the visitors as they broke on the counter attack after a Bolton chance had been wasted. Di Santo nodded down a long ball from Emmerson Boyce to James McCarthy, the Irishman spread the ball to Victor Moses on the left wing, he twisted and turned his way into the penalty area but his left foot shot hit the side netting.
The half struggled after the lively opening quarter with neither side threatening the goal despite some nice build-up play in the middle of the pitch. However with seconds of the first half remaining the visitors took the lead from a set piece after some shocking marking from Bolton’s David Wheater.
Beausejour fired a corner in from the left hand side and Caldwell rose above Wheater to head past Adam Bogdan from five yards to send the visiting support wild and make Martinez’s half time team talk a little bit easier.
With the second half only minutes old Wigan nearly doubled their lead through Emmerson Boyce, the full back would have been an unlikely scorer but after Zat Knight failed to clear a cross the ball dropped to Boyce but from 15 yards out he dragged his shot wide.
On the hour more good interplay from Wigan saw McArthur release Moses into the area, the winger cut the ball back to the Scot but his low shot was straight at Bogdan who saved easily.
Bolton punished that miss by getting themselves back into the game in the 67th minute through Mark Davies. A long ball from Bogdan struck David Ngog on the back and the loose fell perfectly to Davies, who fired a left foot piledriver into the top corner - giving Al-Habsi no chance.
However, the home side were only level for nine minutes as the visitors retook the lead following a lethal counter attack.
Substitute Hugo Rodallega combined with Moses on the left, the winger raced towards goal and although his shot was parried by Bogdan, the ball fell right into the path of McArthur, who made no mistake from five yards.
With the game nearing its conclusion the home side thought they had levelled but Al-Habsi made a fantastic save from substitute Miyaichi.
Follow the Premier League LIVE on Goal.com:
Commentaries, Stats, Player Ratings and much more,
Visit Goal.com Live Scores!
Commentaries, Stats, Player Ratings and much more,
Visit Goal.com Live Scores!
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets |
|
| Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached! |
|
| Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET! |
|
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In BST
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Robin van Persie Striker Manchester United |
26 | 3 |
|
Luis Suárez Striker Liverpool |
23 | 0 |
|
Gareth Bale Midfielder Tottenham |
21 | 0 |
|
C. Benteke Striker Aston Villa |
19 | 3 |
|
Michu Midfielder Swansea City |
19 | 0 |
