Wigan started like a house on fire, with Michael Jacobs getting round the back a couple of times inside the opening four minutes.

The second time saw him felled by Jason Lowe, who was cautioned for the challenge.

But Reece James exacted the perfect revenge by picking out Garner with the free-kick, and the striker headed home from close range.

Lowe's afternoon did not get any better, as he was forced off after just eight minutes through injury.

Ex-Wigan man Callum Connolly headed Bolton's first opportunity over, before Antonee Robinson – a former Wanderer – saw a shot tipped round the post at the other end.

Wigan doubled their lead six minutes into the second period with Nick Powell supplying Gavin Massey, who found the back of the net via the inside of the post.

And an awful mistake in the Bolton ranks gifted Powell Wigan's third goal just four minutes later.

Bolton pulled one back in the 62nd minute through Gary O'Neil, a neat strike past Christian Walton, and the visitors sensed a way back into it.

That hope was nearly extinguished immediately when Jacobs saw a stinging strike fly just wide.

Sam Morsy wasted another great chance after more fine work from Powell, and Wigan must have wondered if it was not to be their day when Remi Matthews pulled off a fabulous save to deny Jacobs.

However, Jacobs had his goal seconds later with a cracking long-range strike with 21 minutes remaining, although Wigan needed a fine save from Walton to deny Connolly another goal back for Bolton.

Wanderers did pull back a second goal with 10 minutes to go through Sammy Ameobi's far-post finish.

But substitute Leon Clarke headed home from Nathan Byrne's teasing cross inside a minute, and the game was safe.

Wigan came within inches of adding a sixth goal in the dying seconds, with Byrne denied his first goal for the club by a coat of finish, his rocket from 25 yards beating the goalkeeper but coming back off the post.

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