With Bolton gearing up to face local rivals Wigan on Saturday, there is no better time to look back at past meetings between the two clubs.
Since 2005, Bolton have played Wigan 22 times and the Trotters’ record against the Latics has been mixed to say the least.
It’s a pretty even spread of results for Bolton and Wigan, who last met in 2015, as both have seven wins to their name. The two sides have also drawn on eight occasions.
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2005/06
The first meeting of the two clubs since 1993 came in 2005. Newly-promoted Wigan hosted Bolton in the Premier League.
It didn’t go well for Bolton as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at the JJB Stadium. In defence of Sam Allardyce’s team, they had travelled to Bulgaria for a midweek UEFA Cup match only a few days before.
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During that season, Bolton fell to another defeat at Wigan in the League Cup. But they did claim a draw in the league at the Reebok.
2006/07
After losing 1-0 earlier in the season, Bolton travelled to the JJB in April with a score to settle. They were also trying to maintain their push for European qualification.
Emile Heskey opened the scoring for Wigan. But with a goal from Nicolas Anelka and a brace from Iranian international Andranik Teymourian, Bolton finally beat Wigan 3-1.
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Little did Bolton fans know but this win would be Allardyce’s final victory as Bolton manager before stepping down.
2007/08
Bolton began the 2007/08 season without Allardyce for the first time in eight years and started dreadfully. By December’s match against Wigan at the Reebok, Bolton had only managed two wins in 15 league games.
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That form didn’t trouble Bolton as Gary Megson’s side thrashed Wigan 4-1 to claim their biggest win of the season. Goals from Kevin Nolan, Kevin Davies and Anelka were the difference for the Whites as they dispatched Wigan in emphatic style.
2009/10
Both matches against the Latics in 2009/10 came in the latter half of the season with the clubs facing each other in February and March.
The away game at the now renamed DW Stadium failed to provide any goals in what was a rather drab game of football.
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The return fixture was a different story. Bolton played host to Wigan in another emphatic win, beating the Latics 4-0 with goals from Johan Elmander, Davies, Fabrice Muamba and Matthew Taylor.
2010/11
Both league games in the 2010/11 season ended as a draw but it was the FA Cup where Bolton triumphed over Wigan this year.
The two teams were held to another draw in the fourth round of the FA Cup. But the replay at the DW saw Bolton progress with a second half goal from Ivan Klasnic.
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Bolton would go on to reach the FA Cup semi-final that year but we don’t talk about how that cup run ended.
2011/12
This season would be the last the two clubs played each other in the Premier League before Bolton’s relegation to Championship. They were followed down by Wigan the season after.
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It was another mixed bag for the Wanderers as they triumphed at the DW with a 3-1 win in October but fell to a 2-1 home defeat later in the season. Goals from David N’Gog and Chris Eagles proved to be the difference in the first game as Bolton recorded only their second win of the season at the time.
2014/15
This season saw the most recent clashes in the derby’s history. Both clubs have been kept apart thanks to spells in League One.
Bolton’s first win over the Latics during the 2014/15 season came in November. Early on in Neil Lennon’s tenure, Bolton went on to win 3-1 and earn the Scot his fourth victory in just six games as boss.
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Goals from Max Clayton, Craig Davies and Chung-Yong Lee sealed all three points. The Korean impressed particularly as he pulled the strings and tore Wigan’s defence apart with some incisive passing. Sadly for Bolton, Crystal Palace came calling for the midfielder in January.
Later that season, the clubs met in another clash in the FA Cup. Bolton prevailed once again with 19 year-old debutante Zach Clough scoring a delicate chip over former Bolton keeper Ali Al Habsi to seal a 1-0 win. Bolton would go on to play Liverpool in the fourth round that year.
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And with that comes the end of our look back at past encounters between the two local rivals.
This weekend, both sides will face off in the Championship once again. Bolton boss Phil Parkinson will be desperate for a win as he comes under more pressure.
How do you think will Bolton fare in the latest clash with Wigan?