Source: Team_Talk
Latics and Trotters share spoils
Wigan forward N'Zogbia went the closest of either side to settling a scrappy encounter after a smart run early in the first half.[LNB]The point was enough to lift both struggling sides up places in the table - Wigan to 14th and Bolton 18th - but both may rue missed opportunities to break the deadlock in a game of few chances.[LNB]Wigan boss Roberto Martinez again kept new signing Victor Moses waiting for his first start but did hand a full debut to on-loan Bolivian forward Marcelo Moreno.[LNB]With in-form James McCarthy also proving his fitness to feature, Wigan hoped to take the game to their rivals but Bolton proved predictably dogged opponents.[LNB]Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander offered a threat for Bolton up front but both were frustrated in their efforts.[LNB]The rearranged match, postponed in December due to wintry weather, was never destined to be a classic on another freezing cold night that saw snow greet kick-off.[LNB]The combination of both sides' desperation for points and the battered pitch suggested a scrappy encounter from the start.[LNB]And so it proved with the early stages setting the tone for an attritional affair.[LNB]Lee Chung-Yong briefly looked dangerous on the Bolton right and twice delivered testing crosses.[LNB]The first was just diverted away from Davies by McCarthy and the second resulted in a shot into the stand by Ricardo Gardner.[LNB]Hugo Rodallega had Wigan's first opening but Jussi Jaaskelainen rushed out to meet him.[LNB]N'Zogbia almost opened the scoring with the first moment of real quality in the match. The England-qualified Frenchman brilliantly cut inside two defenders after 20 minutes but his curling effort clipped the post.[LNB]Bolton striker Elmander then found space outside the Wigan area but shot wide of the target.[LNB]McCarthy turned neatly to create a chance for Wigan but Jaaskelainen was not troubled by his shot.[LNB]Play switched to the other end again with Lee breaking clear but this time Gary Caldwell headed his cross behind for a corner.[LNB]Rodallega twice failed to make the most of openings close to half-time.[LNB]The Colombian dwelt too long after a superb ball into the box from Titus Bramble and he again failed to shoot after Mohamed Diame picked up the attack.[LNB]McCarthy also had a shot blocked as Bolton scrambled clear.[LNB]Elmander exploited space down the right early in the second half but his cross was turned into the side-netting by Caldwell.[LNB]Martinez opted to introduce more firepower after 51 minutes by replacing defender Bramble with striker Jason Scotland.[LNB]Rodallega headed wide from an N'Zogbia cross but the game generally remained scrappy as both sides struggled to make the breakthrough.[LNB]It was some time before either side created another opportunity, it finally coming when Fabrice Muamba shot wide from distance after 67 minutes.[LNB]Bolton boss Owen Coyle attempted to break the stalemate by introducing on-loan Manchester City midfielder Vladimir Weiss and the move almost paid off instantly.[LNB]Davies and Elmander both headed on a long ball and Weiss came rushing in to shoot narrowly wide with his first touch.[LNB]Elmander then played Matt Taylor in on goal moments later but he also failed to hit the target.[LNB]Martinez decided to throw Moses into action with 11 minutes remaining but it was Rodallega who next threatened from an overhead kick that flew over.[LNB]Chris Kirkland then blocked a Davies effort and Taylor again shot wide when well placed.[LNB]N'Zogbia burst forward as Wigan tried to finish with a flourish but Rodallega shot into the side-netting with two minutes remaining.[LNB][LNB][LNB]
