English Premiership
Bolton stay in relegation zone
2010-02-18 07:01
England - Bolton remained in the Premier League relegation zone after grinding out a 0-0 draw against fellow strugglers Wigan on Wednesday.
Owen Coyle's 18th placed team moved up one spot as a result of the stalemate at the DW Stadium, but they missed a chance to climb out of the bottom three.
Wigan are also still in trouble and lie just two points above the drop zone after their fifth league game without a win.
Latics boss Roberto Martinez handed a first start to Bolivian striker Marcelo Moreno, signed on loan from Ukraine's UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk, while Bolton named an unchanged side following Sunday's FA Cup draw against Tottenham.
With Bolton in the bottom three and Wigan just above the relegation zone, there was more than just Lancashire pride at stake for both teams in this local derby.
Nerves seemed to dominate in the early stages as snow descended on the DW Stadium's already weather-beaten pitch.
South Korea midfielder Lee Chung-Yong provided a brief spark of inspiration as the Bolton star whipped in a perfect cross that Ricardo Gardner volleyed high over the crossbar.
But Wigan were the more dangerous side after that. Hugo Rodallega had Wigan's first sight of goal, only for Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to smother the danger.
Latics winger Charles N'Zogbia also threatened with a superb run past two defenders that ended with a curling shot which grazed the outside of a post.
Neither team could find any momentum after the break and Martinez sent on striker Jason Scotland in place of centre-back Titus Bramble in a bid to shake up Wigan's attack.
Rodallega headed wide from an N'Zogbia cross soon after Martinez's change but Wigan were still subdued by the visitors' stubborn defence.
Coyle attempted to break the deadlock by introducing on-loan Manchester City midfielder Vladimir Weiss and the move almost paid off.
Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander combined to set up Weiss, who shot just past a post with his first touch.
Martinez threw on recent signing Victor Moses with 11 minutes remaining but it was Rodallega who went closest to scoring for the Latics with a bicycle kick that flashed over.
Bolton made a late surge to steal the points as Davies forced Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland to save well, while Matt Taylor shot wide from a good position.