NOW WE’RE ON ROAD TO WIGAN PEERLESS

CHRISTIAN WALTON admitted a local-derby win against Bolton was the perfect way for Wigan to reignite their faltering campaign.

The Latics had slipped to fourth-bottom in the Championship after a wretched run of results.

But they produced a fivestar display to see off their closest rivals at a canter, moving up two places in the process. Joe Garner opened the scoring inside four minutes, and further goals from Gavin Massey, Nick Powell, Michael Jacobs and Leon Clarke gave Wigan their biggest win of the campaign.

And keeper Walton, recalled for his first start since New Year’s Day, admitted it was time to put things right. “Whoever we played we would have been flying out of the trap,” said the former England Under-21 international, on loan from Brighton.

“After a few defeats we wanted to put things right, and I think we did.

“We proved there’s far too much firepower here to be where we are in the Championship.”

For Bolton boss Phil Parkinson, not even the international break offers anything resembling respite from a car-crash state of affairs.

Wanderers showed fight in the second half, mustering goals from Gary O’Neil and Sammy Ameobi, but only after Wigan had a firm grasp on the game.

“I’m not sure it’s something we can sort out on the training ground,” Parkinson said. “It’s about dealing with the player you’re up against, and balls coming in to the box.

“We just didn’t do that.”