WIGAN ATHLETIC 0 BOLTON WANDERERS 4 Elmander 10 Davies (pen) 47 Muamba 53 Taylor 69 Report by Paul Chialton
From the ecstasy of ,Monday night's victory over Liverpool came the agony of defeat to nearby rivals Bolton Wanderers.
Goals from Johan Elmander, Kevin Davies, Fabrice Muamba and Matt Taylor sealed a 4-0 win for the home side in a game Latics really didn't turn-up to.
Mistakes at the back, lapses in concentration and a lack of cutting-edge up-front all contributed to the defeat and a real set-back going into the final stretch of the campaign.
Roberto Martinez's men had started brightly though, moving the ball round confidently and attacking the final third swiftly.
Their efforts should have brought a penalty when Hugo Rodallega appeared to be tripped in the area through on goal by Andy O'Brien. Alas referee Mike Dean saw nothing wrong and yet another decision went against Latics.
But against the run of play Johan Elmander pounced on Kevin Davies' flick-on and slotted calmly past Chris Kirkland. A slight hint of a foul on Titus Bramble had preceded the goal but that's just the kind of bad luck we're suffering at the moment.
The response was good slowly working our way back into contention and threatening on the stroke of half-time when Charles N'Zogbia's effort from seven-yards was superbly saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Going into the second-half a penalty two minutes in was the hammer-blow that, looking back, was the deciding point. Gary Caldwell's outstretched foot caught Tamir Cohen and captain Davies dispatched calmly to double the lead.
Goals from Fabrice Muamba and Matt Taylor followed as Bolton thrived on a number of unforced errors made by Latics, and on reflection it really was a case of making the opposition look better than they actually were.
It means the pressure's back on for Tuesday night's clash with Aston Villa, a home tie that as well as a result needs a big performance. Latics: Kirkland; Boyce, Bramble, Caldwell, Figueroa; Diame, McCarthy; N'Zogbia, Scharner (Scotland, 53), Moses (Gomez, 53); Rodallega (Thomas, 78)
