RESERVES: BOLTON 0 2 LATICS Kapo and McManaman score in comfortable win
BOLTON WANDERERS 0
LATICS 2
Kapo 58
McManaman 66
Latics manager Steve Bruce watched seven of his squad stroll to victory against Bolton Wanderers at the Lancashire FA in Leyland with terrific goals from
Olivier Kapo and the ever improving Callum McManaman.
Keith Bertschin's men were a class apart throughout and the only surprise was that it took them so long to open the scoring.
KAP FITS - Right, Clinical finish by Olivier Kapo for the opener
But two goals in a little under ten second half minutes proved enough against a spirited young Bolton side who seemed to relish the challenge of playing against such experienced side.
Daniel de Ridder's delivery from the right hand side proved to be a real difference on the night, the Dutchman creating both goals with two superb crosses.
The first came when he worked himself a yard of space to whip in a teasing ball to the far post.
Olivier Kapo rose excellently above centre half Tom Exckersley to plant a clinical header back across 'keeper Adam Bogdan and into the bottom corner.
The second goal was another real peach.
De Ridder this time crossed it low for the lively Callum McManaman to spin quickly on the penalty spot and place a beautiful side footed drive beyond Bogdan's reach. Another terrific finish from him.
Either side of the goals, Latics squandered numerous chances, most of them emanating initially from the boot of de Ridder.
Kapo and
Antoine Sibierski both went close in the first ten minutes. McManaman saw a goalbound shot bravely blocked before the break while he had another effort late on.
FRENCH FANCY - Antoine Sibierski showed some sublime touches
Bolton played their part in a lively game, notably through powerful striker Danny Ward, who caused Latics' young centre halves a few problems.
Richard Kingson had a relatively quiet night but was forced into a couple of key saves, at the end of each half.
Overall, however, this was a good run out for those players knocking on the door of the Latics first team.
Captain for the night
Lee Cattermole - whom Steve Bruce has hinted strongly will be back in the side against Blackburn - played his first game for six weeks after serving his four match suspension and was the dominant force on the pitch, breaking up attacks and spraying some terrific balls left and right; and all that without ever really hitting top gear.
TOP CAT - Lee Cattermole oozed quality on the night
Alongside him,
Jason Koumas and Kapo looked comfortable throughout as you would expect, the only slight injuries on the night coming to Sibierski and Erik Edman
The Frenchman was replaced late on as a precaution, while the Swede provided the only real sour note of the night, forced off after half an hour with slight concussion.
"Mission accomplished," said Bertschin afterwards. "It's usually our team that has been the inexperienced ones this season, so it made a change to be the ones expected to win and it provided a different kind of challenge for the side.
"But they did their jobs professionally out there, managing to come away with the win while playing within themselves. Like I say, job done."
LATICS: Kingson, Buxton, Pearson, Edman (Routledge 33), Redmond, de Ridder, Cattermole, Koumas, Kapo, Sibierski (Holt 84), Kapo, McManaman.
Subs: Nicholls, Holt, Hampson, Mahon,
PICTURES ON THE NIGHT BY BERNARD PLATT AND DAVE KENDALL, OFFICIAL WIGAN ATHLETIC PHOTOGRAPHERS
