Bolton Wanderers secured back-to-back home victories for the first time in the season yesterday with their 4-1 win over rivals Wigan Athletic.
After three consecutive defeats at home to Wigan with an aggregate score of 10-0, the Trotters secured a derby-day victory in front of the 25,565 crowd. This victory was their first against their rivals at home since a 1-0 victory over 10 years ago.
A third defeat of the season for the Latics sees them drop below Bolton to 12th in the League One table. On the flip side, the Trotters are now in 10th and two points from the play-off places.
How did Bolton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic go?
Bolton Wanderers blew their opponents away in the first half, leaving them little chance of getting back into the game. Thierry Gale had two attempts on goal before he opened the scoring in the 15th minute.
A cross from Josh Cogley could only be parried by Wigan goalkeeper Sam Tickle into the path of Gale. The Barbados international slammed the ball home to score his first goal in League One this season.
Wigan were struggling to cope with Bolton’s attack and five minutes later the lead was extended. Gale was involved again, driving down the left-wing before cutting the ball back to Marcus Forss who smashed it home for his first goal for the club.
The game was all-but-over just before half-time as Bolton added their third. A misplaced Wigan pass found its way to Mason Burstow who thumped a low drive into the corner for 3-0.
Any slim chance of a Wigan revival was limited five minutes after the break. Poor defending from the Latics allowed Forss in on goal to score his second and Bolton’s fourth.
Paul Mullin bagged his fourth goal in Wigan colours but Bolton managed to see the game out. A number of Wigan fans had headed for the exit before the full-time whistle.
Bolton Wanderers’ clinical attacking quality
A key factor in Bolton’s impressive victory was their fluid attacking play. Schumacher’s side racked up 13 attempts on goal with seven shots on target throughout the game.
The Trotters had a wide range of threats across the game. Bolton had nine shots from inside the box and four from outside, including Burstow’s 42nd minute goal.
Schumacher’s side were clinical with converting the chances they fashioned. Despite scoring four, Bolton totalled 1.33 expected goals (xG) throughout the game.
This clinical display was highlighted by the Bolton boss:
“For us to play that well and be as clinical as we were, especially in the first half, was really pleasing…”
“Today we’re 3-0 up after 35 minutes or whatever it was. If we can be as clinical in the next games as we were today, then we’ll be fine”
Bolton were able to dominate proceedings and keep sustained pressure on Wigan through their territorial advantage. 43% of their accurate passes came in the Wigan half and they totalled 26 touches in the Latics’ penalty area.
This pressure forced mistakes upon Wigan’s back line with Matthew Smith and Morgan Fox at fault for two of Bolton’s goals. Wigan manager Ryan Lowe highlighted his side’s poor defensive display:
“The goals are definitely avoidable”
“Everyone said we got battered, it weren’t like that, the mistakes we gifted they were clinical on every mistake we gave away”
“We don’t get gifted opportunities in the way we gifted opportunities to them”
Wigan Athletic’s toothless attack
For all of Bolton’s impressive attacking display, the same cannot be said of the Latics. Prior to the game, Wigan were ranked first in League One for expected goals with 14.42 xG and first for big chances missed (17) in the division.
Despite their attacking prowess in previous games, the first attempt on goal for Lowe’s side came in the 43rd minute of the game. Overall, Ryan Lowe’s side totalled nine shots with one of these on target.
That on target attempt was Mullin’s goal which translated to a 0.03 xG chance. Overall, Wigan racked up 0.68 xG but failed to test the keeper after Mullin’s goal.
Mullin had 20 touches in the game which was the least of any outfield player to play the full 90 minutes. Playing 45 minutes each, Mullin’s strike partners, Maleace Asamoah and Dara Costelloe totalled 23 touches between them.
On the flip side, credit has to be given to Bolton’s defence which Schumacher did:
“we had to defend at times and we didn’t have it all our own way. But we stood up to that and we have to show that side to us, that we can stand and fight and battle”
Player of the match: Thierry Gale
Before the game, large proportions of attention were given to Bolton’s Amario Cozier-Duberry but it was their other winger Thierry Gale who stole the show.
The 23-year-old was a consistent threat for the Trotters and totalled four shots across the game, the highest of any player on the pitch. Gale’s shot accuracy was 75% and he ranked second for expected goals with a figure of 0.43 xG.
His performance was rewarded with his first League goal and assist of the campaign. Overall, an impressive performance by Gale helped secure Bolton Wanderers’ 4-1 win.