Bolton Wanderers found a powerful Wigan side too much too handle at Leyland on Wednesday night.

Olivier Kapo and Callum McManaman scored in the second half as the Latics, who included half-a-dozen senior players, avenged December's home defeat to Alan Cork's men.

With regulars Robert Sissons and James Sinclair absent, Bolton had only two professionals in their line-up against Wigan and Cork admits it has been a tough learning curve.

"They are a great set of lads and you can't fault them effort but they are going from the Academy to professionals and you have to learn to be big and ugly," said Cork. "They have done well but just can't get a result. We are conceding silly goals and can't get a goal ourselves."

Bolton competed well in the first half with Danny Ward forcing Wigan keeper Richard Kingson to punch his header clear and Michael O'Halloran also testing the Ghana international.

And Cork's youngsters could have gone in front just after the break with chances for Aaron Mooy and O'Halloran. But neither were taken and with an hour gone Wigan went ahead when former Juventus and Auxerre midfielder Kapo headed home a cross from Daniel de Ridder.

With Lee Cattermole and Jason Koumas patrolling midfield Wigan had plenty of possession and they made it count when they doubled their lead six minutes later through impressive youngster McManaman, who controlled another De Ridder cross before shooting past Adam Bogdan.

Bolton almost managed to get on the scoresheet in the final minute when Adam Blakeman controlled a cross from Chris Stokes and unleashed a shot which Kingson did well to save.

Bolton: Bogdan, Riley (McDonald 73), Stokes, Sheridan, Eckersley, Bennett, Mooy (Campbell 67), Blakeman, Ward, O'Halloran, Woolfe (McGeechan 75).

Wigan: Kingson, Buxton, Redmond, Cattermole, Pearson, Edman (Routledge 32), De Ridder, Koumas, Sibierski (Hart 82), McManaman, Kapo. Attendance: 122