AMZNG ZAKI; Egyptian is Wigan's 'pyramid' man... good for three points In association with COMMERCIAL VEHICLES.

Byline: BY ALAN NIXON

BOLTON 0

WIGAN 1

AMR ZAKI should fall out with Steve Bruce more often - the enigmatic Egyptian was Wigan's hero for the second game running after getting a blast from the boss.

Zaki came back late from a trip home and angered his manager, but shrewd Bruce stuck with him and was rewarded with a penalty clincher that pushed Wigan up to seventh place.

Zaki also had to shake off the effects of a sore head when he crashed into team-mate Mario Melchiot just before he was called on to settle a tight and tense match.

The striker had an eggsized lump on his forehead above a gash, but he had to stay on as strike partner Emile Heskey had already gone off injured. Zaki certainly kept his head to send Jussi Jaaskelainen the wrong way from the spot in the 43rd minute after Andy O'Brien had foolishly fouled sub Henri Camara as he went for a fine cross by Wilson Palacios.

Danny Shittu thought he had equalised with a header that was cleared off the line and also bounced a header off the bar in injury-time, but Wigan held on for three hard-fought points.

Bolton steamed into tackles from the start and skipper Kevin Nolan left an early mark on Palacios with a high and wild tackle that earned a booking.

Ricardo Gardner made Mike Pollitt - a late call-up for injured Chris Kirkland - save low at his post before Paul Scharner's fabulous late tackle stopped Kevin Davies from picking his spot.

But that was the only time Wigan looked rocky in a strong performance that takes their total points in the calendar year to a remarkable 59.

Heskey almost won a penalty when Shittu sent him spinning in the box and Gavin McCann also escaped with a hand-ball from a Ryan Taylor corner.

Impressive Heskey was denied by Jaaskelainen's legs but limped off with a hamstring strain just after the half-hour - an injury that should also end all talk of him moving in the transfer window.

Sub Henri Camara went close to scoring with his first contribution, a curler that Jaaskelainen athletically turned around the post.

Despite their injury troubles Wigan were on top, with Lee Cattermole bringing out another vital save from Jaaskelainen.

Even left-back Maynor Figueroa went close on a rare foray forward.

Wigan's biggest scare came when Shittu's header was odded away by Palacios.

Wanderers claimed it was over the line, but the linesman ruled against them.

Johan Elmander was denied from close range by Pollitt's legs and Davies hit a post with a tight-angled shot from the rebound as Bolton pounded away in vain.

Bolton boss Gary Megson took off skipper Nolan, who was unfairly jeered by some home fans, as he went for the point but Wigan held out well.

Wigan have a very useful blend of foreign and local talent - best summed up in midfield where Palacios and Cattermole combine superbly. If they survive the window without losing stars they could even challenge for Europe.

Honduran star Palacios can handle the physical stuff while Cattermole is maturing into one of the best Englishmen around in his position. Bruce has bought well and enhance his reputation greatly since taking over at the JJB.

COMPUTER

BOLTON FANS BOO NOLAN

BALL POSSESSION

49% 51%

FACE TO FACE

8 Corner 7

2 offside 3

54% Pass completion 65%

21 Tackles 15

14 Fouls 14

2 Cards 2

SHOUTS

8 off target 4

4 on target 5

NEXT THREE GAMES

BOLTON

Saturday: Sunderland (a) FA Cup

Sat, Jan 10: Arsenal (a) Prem

Sat, Jan 17: Man Utd (h) Prem

WIGAN

Friday: Spurs (a) FA Cup

Sun, Jan 11: Spurs (h) Prem

Wed, Jan 14: Man Utd (a) Prem

Wilson Palacios (WIGAN)

8

Honduran action man put in terrific all-round display

VILLAIN OF THE MATCH

5 Andy O'Brien (BOLTON) Conceded vital penalty with a silly challenge

ANORAK Wigan's Egypt striker Amr Zaki has got his last three goals from the penalty spot

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen 8, Steinsson 6d, O'Brien 5, Shittu 6, Samuel 6 (Riga 65, 5), Taylor 5, McCann 6, Nolan 6d(Muamba 65, 5), Davies 6, Elmander 6, Gardner 5 (Odejayi 87).

WIGAN: Pollitt 7, Melchiot 6, Scharner 7, Bramble 7, Figueroa 6, Valencia 7, Cattermole 7d, Palacios 8d, Taylor 7d(Kilbane 87), Heskey 6 (Camara 33, 7), Zaki 7 (Brown 90). Goal: Zaki 44 (pen).

REFEREE: Phil Dowd. ATTENDANCE: 2 3,726.

CAPTION(S):

HIGH FIVE Steve Bruce salutes Amr Zaki after he slotted in the winning penalty (left); FOUL Andy O'Brien gives away the penalty