In a game that saw the very early dismissal of Jason Koumas, Latics battled hard for 87 minutes to get the result they deserved.

Koumas saw red less than 5 minutes into the match for a rash challenge on Gary Cahill, I personally thought it warranted a yellow as we see these tackles every week, but Steve Tanner thought otherwise.

It was an uphill battle after the sending off and the team had to work very hard, but work hard they did.

Emile Heskey playing with a pain killing injection scored the winner on 34 minutes, only his second of the season.

Immediately prior to the goal, Paul Scharner had seen a header cleared off the line, while before that a low shot from Palacios was pushed past the post by Wanderers keeper Ali Al Habsi.

Heskey's goal was a relatively simple affair in terms of build-up and clinically finished from the England international.

Skipper Mario Melchiot launched a long throw into the box, Heskey meeting it with a first-time right foot volley which Al Habsi could only help into the roof of the net with a despairing touch of his outstretched glove.

Kirkland denied Bolton a 44th minute equaliser when he dived to save a header from substitute Grzegorz Rasiak.

The second half was a different story to our first half domination. Chris Kirkland had to make a fine save at Kevin Davies' feet after he latched on to a knock down.

Davies then lobbed a shot over the bar after Kirkland's punch had bounced off Wilson Palacios into his path.

Latics survived a strong penalty shout in the 67th minute, Michael Brown appearing to use his arm to block a Davies header on the line.

But referee Tanner waved away Bolton's appeals, partly redeeming himself in Wigan eyes for Koumas' dismissal.

Report by Jason Taylor www.cockneylatic.co.uk