Phil’s grit pays off in a battle of Wills
BOLTON players have not got their wages yet – but they did not short-change their fans in this do-or-die derby against old foe Wigan.
Wanderers’ players, who were not paid in November, started strongly and took the lead through Will Buckley.
But they were left furious when ref Simon Hooper awarded a contentious penalty that Will Griggs hit home with ease.
Bolton felt even more aggrieved when Wigan’s Sam Morsy appeared to handle Mark Beevers’cross.
Bolton boss Phil Parkinson said: “I thought the rule was that if your arms were out in an unnatural position it was a penalty. That’s what happened.
“Everybody in the ground knew that the challenge for theirs wasn’t a penalty apart from two people. I am very disappointed.”
Parkinson praised his men for handling the pay problems and added: “When you don’t get paid you would be pretty demotivated. But the lads put it to one side.”
Buckley was the man who ended the club’s dreadful goal famine, hitting home only their third strike in 10 long games.
The former Sunderland attacker carved himself enough space to meet a superb far-post cross from Pawel Olkowski. Buckley controlled well, kept his cool and hammered an angled drive past stranded keeper Christian Walton.
But Wigan clawed their way back into contention less than 20 minutes later, albeit through a penalty that Bolton thought was dodgy.
Referee Hooper judged that Latics striker Grigg was brought down by Jack Hobbs, who appeared to win the ball in his tackle on the Northern Ireland hitman.
However, the spot-kick decision stood and Grigg hit a no-nonsense penalty past keeper Ben Alnwick for his fourth goal of the season.
Wigan boss Paul Cook said: “I think we did enough to win the game but congratulations to Bolton for their spirited and committed performance after their difficulties.
“They never left a blade of grass untouched and Parky will be very proud of them.”