Bolton record their biggest win of the season against Wigan

The Trotters could even afford to shrug off a missed Anelka penalty and still claim a second successive league triumph at the Reebok Stadium following their shock victory over Manchester United a fortnight ago.

Anelka atoned for the error by tapping home in the last minute - and with old stagers Kevin Nolan and Kevin Davies also among the scorers, Megson is swiftly becoming a worthy successor to the legacy left by Sam Allardyce.

There may still be a few remaining dissenters. But regular chants of 'Ginger Mourinho' were heard from the home fans, and Megson has certainly stabilised a situation that was deteriorating rapidly under Sammy Lee.

Of the two managers going head-to-head this afternoon, it is Wigan boss Steve Bruce who has by far the most to worry about.

Middlesbrough's shock victory over Arsenal hardly helped Bruce, whose track record suggest Dave Whelan's money will be well spent when the transfer window opens next month. He faces an uphill battle to keep Wigan competitive before they get there, though.

What Bruce must eradicate before he can even think about dragging the Latics clear of trouble are the self-inflicted wounds that have marred his arrival the JJB Stadium.

Last week, a calamitous Titus Bramble blunder 'gifted' Manchester City a 28-second lead. Today, Wigan lasted slightly longer - but there was still less than three minutes on the clock when Paul Scharner headed into his own net.

Quite why the Austrian did not pull out of his intended clearance when El-Hadji Diouf's cross floated over Anelka's head into a penalty area packed with Wigan players cannot be explained.

Instead - with goalkeeper Chris Kirkland ambling out to complete an easy catch, Scharner headed the ball into an empty net.

On the touchline, Bruce must have suffered a horrible feeling of deja-vu.

However, just as they did eight days ago, Wigan responded to the setback admirably - rolling up their sleeves, taking the fight to their opponents and deservedly drawing level.

There was a comical element to the Latics equaliser too as Abdoulaye Meite stuck out a foot to prevent Emmerson Boyce's low cross reaching Emile Heskey, only to see the ball roll perfectly for Denny Landzaat - who found the net in clinical fashion.

At that stage, Bolton looked to be there for the taking - their defence wobbling badly every time Wigan ventured forward.

Unfortunately for the visitors, they were unable to capitalise on the spirited foraging of Marcus Bent and should really have been behind midway through the half when Andreas Granqvist blocked Danny Guthrie's bouncing shot with an arm.

In such circumstances, Anelka is normally a man to be relied on. That was not so on this occasion, though, the French forward scooping a woeful spot-kick high over the bar.

Thankfully for Bolton's record signing, Nolan was able to spare his blushes before half-time.

It has not been an easy season for the Trotters captain. A one-time England candidate, Nolan was controversially axed by Sammy Lee earlier in the campaign.

Slowly, the Merseysider is recapturing his form - and the impudent way he flicked home the loose ball, after Granqvist had blocked Anelka's shot, suggested his confidence is rising too.

Three times at the start of the second period, Jussi Jaaskelainen was called upon to protect Bolton's lead.

Out of contract in the summer, Jaaskelainen proved his worth with a superb reaction save to deny Bent - having already repelled Heskey and Landzaat.

Heskey should have scored when he met Jason Koumas' cross with a firm header, although the same could also have been said about Diouf at the other end when Davies picked him out at the far post.

The outcome was still in the balance. But Davies removed any doubt when he completed an unhappy afternoon for Granqvist, getting on the wrong side of the Swedish defender to steer home Diouf's far-post cross from close range.

Anelka rounded off the scoring a minute from time, tapping in his ninth goal of a campaign that is suddenly looking full of hope for Bolton.