Match Report: Bolton Wanderers 3-1 Wigan Athletic

Wigan had the upper hand going into the break after they hid the woodwork twice through Callum McManaman. However it was the hosts that took the lead when Max Clayton finished past Scott Carson. Soon after Craig Davies doubled Bolton's lead with a powerful header. Lee Chung-Yong put the game to bed from the spot before Callum McManaman's emphatic finish earned Wigan a consolation late on.

Both sides went into the game in desperate need of the 3 points but in completely different form. Bolton had earned themselves 3 wins from 5 games since Neil Lennon took over whilst Wigan have only managed 1 win since their 4-0 victory against Birmingham in August all be it away at Steve McClaren's high flying Derby County.

Wigan started out as usual, having the majority possession, knocking the ball about with some real purpose and playing good football but having nothing to show for it.  Some clever link up play by Adam Forshaw and Roger Espinoza shifted the ball out left to Callum McManaman who drove to the byline and found Shaun Maloney at the back post with a searching ball only for the Scot to volley narrowly wide past the post. Callum McManaman again was at the heart of the action when Roger Espinoza found the former Everton man on the left wing, McManaman beat Josh Vela once more, this time going inside the full back to unleash a fierce curling shot only to see his effort smack the top of Andy Lonergan's bar.

The hosts began to see more of the ball as the first half wore on, Lee Chung Yong's through ball found Max Clayton but the former Crewe Alexandra man saw his low driven effort palmed away by Scott Carson. Mark Davies began to dictate Bolton's play and nearly turned goal scorer as he ran at a Wigan defence who continually backed off the former Wolves man allowing the midfielder to unleash a shot but Davies saw his effort drag horribly wide. Josh Vela was again nearly left red faced when he wanted too much time and was caught on the ball by Shaun Maloney who fed the ball into Marc Antoine Fortune, Fortune slipped it into the path of Roger Espinoza who couldn't quite compose himself enough to get a shot away. What followed was Wigan's closest chance of the half, Shaun Maloney spread the play out to Callum McManaman who saw his effort strike the outside of the Bolton post.

What was to proceed in the second half was a horrific 11 minute collapse by Uwe Rosler's men. Bolton took the lead through Max Clayton, Leon Barnett was caught ball watching when Max Clayton latched onto a through ball from Lee Chung-Yong to calmly slot past Scott Carson to start an embarrassing phase of play. Craig Davies doubled Bolton's lead no more than 5 minutes later, Craig Davies met a lofted Liam Feeney ball and powered home the header. Leon Barnett's slack back pass gifted Max Clayton a glorious chance to wrap the game up but he couldn't find the net. A long free kick into the back and Leon Barnett man handled Matt Mills leaving referee Scott Duncan with no choice but to point to the spot. Lee Chung-Yong fired past Carson to take the hosts out of sight by 60 minutes. James McClean was introduced. There were doubts whether the Irishman would play on Friday due to his choice to not wear a poppy but the former Sunderland man was named on the bench and turned provider 11 minutes from time. A drop of the shoulder and a change of pace got McClean the half a yard he needed from the inexperienced Josh Vela who had been beaten on numerous occasions during the night to whip in a ball which was met by an incoming Callum McManaman who guided his volley emphatically into the top corner. Two faultless players in an otherwise miserable 45 minutes of football. Uwe Rosler said he felt "embarrassed" by his players after the game when he spoke after the game:

"It's difficult to stand here and find the right words, we started the game well, we hit the post and the bar, these were 2 big chances."

"Bolton won the game with pure will power,energy, and desire. They were very competitive and our players couldn't cope with it. It was embarrassing."

"We gave up and lost complete organisation and our heads and the will to compete for our football club."

The result leaves Wigan in the bottom 3 as Bolton climb out of it and above Wigan for the first time this season. From a fans point of view it was completely and utterly unacceptable from Wigan. There was no passion and no motivation. I as a fan have stood by Rosler but my confidence in the German has gone completely out the window. The man has lost all support from the fans and for several weeks it looks like he has lost it from the players.

A final word on James McClean, the winger chose not to wear a poppy on Friday night for his personal reasons. After Friday night I respect the man hugely,despite the abuse he knew he was going to get, James McClean played and played his heart out. He is standing up for his beliefs and opinions which he is well within his rights to do. James McClean over the past few weeks has changed my opinion on himself to a huge extent.