Last updated on .From the section Championship

Joe Garner's seventh goal of the season opened the scoring for Wigan against Bolton

Wigan Athletic ended a seven-game winless run by thrashing Bolton Wanderers in an entertaining Championship relegation battle.

The Latics took an early lead when Joe Garner headed in a beautifully-whipped Reece James free-kick and, after a fairly even first period, they took complete control thanks to early second-half goals from Gavin Massey and Nick Powell.

Bolton midfielder Gary O'Neil briefly gave the visitors hope, but just a few minutes later Michael Jacobs made the game safe to re-establish the hosts' advantage.

Sammy Ameobi scored a consolation for the Trotters before Leon Clarke added a fifth for Wigan to take them three points clear of the drop zone.

Bolton are now eight points from safety with as many games remaining.

Phil Parkinson's side dramatically stayed in the division last season with two late goals on the final day, but their place in the second tier looks to be slowly slipping away this term.

A poor start at the DW Stadium will have given their fans little hope of a successful afternoon, as Bolton have now gone 54 league games without winning a match in which they having conceded the opening goal.

Wigan's solid home form is likely to be what will keep them up - Paul Cook's team have now collected 33 of their 39 points at their home ground.

Victory rarely looked in doubt against their neighbours, Garner's bullet header giving them a half-time lead before Powell played Massey through and the winger clipped his shot in off the post shortly after the restart.

Bolton keeper Remi Matthews then failed to properly clear, allowing Garner to nip in and provide Powell with the simplest of tap-ins.

By the time veteran midfielder O'Neil finished well from inside the box, Bolton's chance of getting something had probably already gone - and it definitely had when Jacobs fired home an unstoppable strike soon after.

Ameobi reduced the arrears by finishing well from a tight angle but almost straight from kick-off Nathan Byrne provided the perfect cross for Clarke to head home and ensure a miserable afternoon for the visitors.

Wigan manager Paul Cook:

"It was just what the doctor ordered, without a shadow of a doubt. The early goal helped calm the nerves, and we rode our luck once or twice in certain situations.

"But we created more than enough chances to win a game of football, that's for sure. The pressure was mounting on everybody, which is just football today. I'm just so pleased for the players, it's a great win.

"I must pat Phil Parkinson and his staff on the back. It's so difficult, going through what they've been going through.

"Week in, week out, it seems to be the same stuff going round, the same cycle, and it must be so tough to try and manage that. While it's a great night for us, a little bit of feeling has to go to Phil and his staff."

Bolton manager Phil Parkinson:

"As soon as we got a goal back, we felt we could go on and get something. We always felt we could create chances against Wigan, but unfortunately conceded too soon after our goals.

"The nature of the third goal in particular summed up our afternoon, and the way it's been going. It's ridiculous.

"It happened earlier this week in the Carlisle-Notts County game, and sometimes when players see something like that on the telly, they copy it.

"I've said to Remi (Matthews) that it's a basic thing as a goalkeeper, you look around you. It's a very poor error."