Bolton 4-1 Wigan: Schumacher’s Side Overtake Wigan
Credit: Keith Heaton / Shutterstock.com
It was Bolton who took home bragging rights on Derby day, ending a curse of longer than ten years without beating the Latics on home turf in style.
Summer Of Change Pays Off
It was a summer of upheaval for Bolton, only three players that started the game today were even at the club last season, as manager Steven Schumacher got stuck into his first summer transfer window after joining the club in January. There were some teething problems integrating so many new faces, with just a single win in their first six games and a remarkable four consecutive 1-1 draws, but things seem to be looking up for the Trotters.
The sides came into the game today with Wigan lingering just outside the Play-Offs and Bolton a point behind them, and Wigan have had their rivals’ number in recent years. Prior to this weekend Bolton hadn’t won on home soil since January 2015 and had only recorded an away win on one occasion since, in April earlier this year. Wigan fans could be forgiven for sauntering down the road to play their neighbours oozing with confidence due to their recent record, but Wanderers soon put a marker down and silenced the rowdy away support.
Barbados international Thierry Gale was one of those new boys who struggled to adapt to English football after signing from Poland in the summer, although recent performances have improved as he settles into the team and gels with his new colleagues. He fired a warning shot well over the bar early on, wiggling away from his marker with ease and putting a drop too much power behind the ball from outside the box. The warning wasn’t heeded, however, and he gave his side the lead after fifteen minutes. Josh Cogley was given too much time to deliver a low cross from the right that wasn’t dealt with by Wigan ‘keeper Sam Tickle, who got a strong hand to it but was only able to divert the ball directly into the path of Gale. The winger reacted quickly to turn the ball into the roof of the net with aplomb for his first league goal for his new club.
Any questions as to how well he’s settled should now be answered, just five minutes after he scored Bolton’s first he then went and set up the second. Wanderers won the ball back in their half and quickly broke down the left, Gale drove forwards into the empty space in front of him and players started to pack the box. He used every yard of his pace to get to the edge of the Wigan box then looked up to find fellow new-boy Marcus Forss unmarked in the area. The pass was pinpoint and the finish matched, the Finn’s first-time effort proved too powerful for Tickle to get anywhere near it and the home fans were in dreamland. 2-0.
Big Expectations
Bolton always begin a new League One season as one of the favourites, they’re a huge club at this level and their fanbase demands excellence. Eyebrows were raised at the decision to select young Mason Burstow to lead their line for this campaign, the Hull loanee only scored twice in 32 games for his parent club last season and only once for Sunderland the season previous. Having now scored five goals in his first nine league appearances, Burstow has certainly silenced those critics.
The latest instalment was something special indeed. Goalscorer Forss capitalised on some lapse Wigan defending, latching on to a lazy pass between defenders to win the ball high up. He laid it off to Ethan Erahon who played a first-time ball through the midfield to find Burstow in space. Nobody got close enough as the striker jinked past a weak challenge and fired a stunning effort from 25 yards into the bottom-left corner. Three goals without reply and the Bolton players were really starting to enjoy themselves.
The hosts continued to look dangerous on the break as the half came to a close, Gale nearly scoring another as the ball was won back on the edge of the Bolton area and launched up towards the forward. He brought the ball down excellently and used his pace to fashion himself a chance but his shot was straight at the goalkeeper. Half-time, 3-0, and those patient Bolton fans were finally starting to believe the curse might be broken.
Wigan Errors Punished Again
Wigan boss Ryan Lowe made three changes at the break to try and pull his side back into contention. These changes did manage to stop Bolton from scoring another, for five minutes. If the second goal was lax defending then this was inexcusable. Under no pressure, substitute Luke Robinson hoofed a routine clearance straight up into the air and Bolton players began to circle like sharks. Morgan Fox attempted to head the ball back to his goalkeeper for safety but misjudged the power and left his pass short, allowing Forss to pounce and tap home an easy finish for his second and Bolton’s fourth of the day to put them well out of sight.
Wigan did reply with one goal back, it was a real beauty and a shame it will be lost to the archives as a consolation goal in a game the club will certainly want to forget. Marquee signing and reality TV star Paul Mullin worked a yard of space at the top of the box and whipped the ball across the goal and tucked it just inside the far post. This was the forward’s third league goal of the season but he is yet to score in a win as Wigan struggle to string a decent run of results together to make a meaningful play-off push.
The Review
The rest of the game petered out on the pitch to a joyous chorus of Bolton chants off of it, the home fans basking in the glory of an emphatic Derby day victory. As great as a big win over your biggest rivals is, Bolton fans will be hoping this result is part of a bigger picture and can help catapult them up the table and finally back to the second tier for the first time in seven years. They’re beginning to garner a reputation for being League One’s nearly-men, missing out on the play-offs late last season and losing in them the two seasons previous. Schumacher has broken one curse already and will be hoping he can be the man to break another and finally leap the final hurdle out of League One.
As far as Wigan are concerned, their ability to remain in the division despite innumerable financial woes over the years is seriously impressive. They’re still rebuilding and it will be a while until they return to the days of FA Cup trophies and European football, but if they can carry on recruiting smartly and developing their young players into stars they could find themselves competing in the Championship again soon. They ran out impressive 3-0 winners against high-flying Doncaster last time out so will be hoping this result is just a blip, albeit a frustrating one against their arch rivals.
Bolton can spend the weekend bouncing and Wigan licking their wounds. Both will have their eyes fixed further up the table, as many of their fellow play-off contenders dropped points in a crazy weekend of League One action. 37 games to go, lots of twists and turns to come. The one thing we know for sure is whoever ends up in those promotion places will have had to have worked extremely hard to get there.
Who knows - we may even see a repeat of this fixture in the Play-Offs.