Bolton 1 : Wigan 2

Wigan secured just their fourth win of the season with a battling 2-1 victory over Bolton to close the gap at the bottom of the table.

Gary Caldwell gave Wigan the lead in the 43rd minute at Reebok Stadium but the hosts equalised through a wonder strike from Mark Davies just after the hour mark.

A James McArthur tap-in with 14 minutes to go won the game for the visitors and secured bragging rights over their local rivals.

With 14 minutes played the game had its first real opening for Wigan as they broke on the counter attack, with Victor Moses' left-footed shot hitting the side netting.

The half struggled after the lively opening quarter with neither side threatening the goal despite some strong build-up play in the middle of the pitch.

With seconds of the first half remaining the visitors took the lead from a set piece after some lax marking allowed Caldwell to rise above David Wheater and head past Adam Bogdan.

Wigan nearly doubled their lead early in the second half when Zat Knight failed to clear a cross, but Emmerson Boyce could only drag his shot wide.

More good interplay from Wigan saw McArthur combine with Moses before testing Bogdan with a low shot.

Bolton punished that miss by getting themselves back into the game in the 67th minute through Davies. A long ball from Bogdan fell perfectly to the tall striker who fired a stunning shot into the top corner.

But Bolton were only level for nine minutes as the visitors retook the lead when Moses' shot was parried into the path of McArthur, who made no mistake from five yards to seal the precious three points.