Bolton 0 Wigan 1:Lee McCulloch stepped off the bench and handed Wigan their second away win on the trot.

The Scotland striker took advantage of his chance in the 79th minute, after replacing the injured Emile Heskey in today's Premiership match at Bolton.

The home side were left to reflect on a glaring miss by Nicolas Anelka in the 11th minute which could have changed the face of the game.

Defender Andy Webster lost possession to El-Hadji Diouf, who picked out Anelka.

The Frenchman had only goalkeeper Chris Kirkland to beat and looked set to score his first goal in the top flight for Bolton.

However, the £8million buy showed a lack of confidence in sending his effort into the stand.

Manager Sam Allardyce had mentioned in his programme notes the need for his team to improve their scoring ratio.

There is no doubt he would have been disappointed at Anelka's effort.

Kirkland could only push away an inswinging free-kick from Gary Speed in the 20th minute, but Kevin Davies was penalised for his challenge on the goalkeeper.

Kirkland was left in some discomfort but was able to continue between the posts as John Filan warmed up as a precaution.

Bolton stepped up the pressure, and Diouf cut in from the left in the 26th minute only to fire his effort over the bar.

Two minutes later Anelka failed to test Kirkland after a good build-up involving Stelios Giannakopoulos and Davies.

Heskey then came off, and Wigan manager Paul Jewell was forced to make another change in the 33rd minute when Gary Teale hobbled off and David Cotterill was introduced.

Henrik Pedersen joined up with the attack in the 36th minute but failed to test Kirkland with his snap shot from inside the area.

Davies was winning the physical battle at this stage with former Hearts star Webster, who was making only his second start for the club.

Diouf and Anelka were also covering a lot of ground in an unsuccessful attempt to make the breakthrough before half-time.

Diouf was sent tumbling to the ground by Kevin Kilbane, the Wigan midfielder booked in the 49th minute.

However, Davies nearly put Bolton ahead in the 53rd minute when he got on the end of a corner from Speed only to flick his header wide.

Cotterill, who arrived from Bristol City for #2million in August, was looking bright on the right flank.

The 18-year-old forward won a free-kick off Speed in the 66th minute.

However, Denny Landzaat succeeded only in sending his effort into the arms of Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Wigan were beginning to win a lot more possession. Full-back Leighton Baines strode forward but sent his shot from distance high over the bar.

Davies was replaced by Ricardo Vaz Te in the 74th minute, after putting in a solid shift without any reward.

Wigan made the breakthrough after a flowing move.

Camara set the ball rolling with a clever back heel, and Kilbane pounced on it.

He released McCulloch, and the Scotland striker fired a shot beyond Jaaskelainen and into the corner.

Bolton almost responded in stoppage time only for Abdoulaye Faye to find the wrong side of the post with his effort.

The fans showed their disapproval at the end after seeing their team defeated for the second week in a row.