Shaun Maloney described Wigan’s latest Derby triumph over Bolton as his biggest win since becoming manager in January 2023.
And the Latics chief’s rare post-game celebrations, joining his players to celebrate in front of more than 3,000 away supporters, showed exactly how much the 2-0 success meant.
Dale Taylor’s 18th-minute opener and Thelo Aasgaard’s eight of the season after 68 minutes extended Wigan’s hoodoo over their neighbours to nine games, eight in the league.
Wanderers, who missed a chance to jump into the play-offs, were booed off at half and full time.
“I said before the game I felt if we won then it would be the proudest or biggest victory I would have since I have been here,” said Maloney.
“I hate showing emotion but it just came out. Generally it doesn’t. I didn’t want to go to the front but it came out in a big way.
“That moment though was for our players. They are the ones that did it.
“These boys can be good – some of them need a little bit more time – but when they are really at it we can beat anyone.
“I had a big decision to make; whether to still go after Bolton or do we turn to what we did last season when we gave them the ball and hurt them on the counter.
“But we went for them because I don’t see this team being able to play any other way.”
Manager Ian Evatt admits a growing disconnect with Bolton fans is “becoming an issue.”
A section of Wanderers’ supporters joined in Wigan chants of ‘sacked in the morning.’
Asked in his post-match press conference had he done as much as could with his side Evatt responded: “I find that question baffling.
“You are talking about someone who has won over fifty percent of his games at this club, more than anyone else.
“You are talking to someone who has just taken 26 points from the last 13 games.
“To say I’m not the man to take the club forward is crazy. This pile on from the fans, and it is a pile on, is my view is disrespectful.
“I agree, though, with the fans booing them off at half time; But to think I am not the man to take this club forward after everything I have given is crazy.”
But Evatt admitted Bolton’s latest derby failure and other big match disappointments-including last season’s play-off final defeat to Oxford, is: “A theme we can’t seem to shake-off.
“For 41-42 games a season I am confident of what we are going to produce.
“But there are four or five others where we look frightened, look timid and look a shade of what we normally are.
“That seems to be against our local rivals or big teams in this division. It is not a coincidence.
“And regardless of how many times we discuss it and try to improve it just seems to keep following us.”
