James McArthur boosted Wigan's survival hopes with a dramatic goal which handed the Latics a 2-1 win over fellow Barclays Premier League strugglers Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.

McArthur followed up a 75th-minute drive by Victor Moses which struck home keeper Adam Bogdan and rebounded to the Scot who could miss from six yards.

Gary Caldwell headed the visitors into a 43rd-minute lead before Mark Davies lashed an equaliser on 67. Bolton's Ryo Miyaichi was denied by Ali Al Habsi late on.

Caldwell's headed opener had been the least the Latics deserved for dominating a nervy and disjointed first period in which the home side seldom threatened. The goal came just before the break when Jean Beausejour sent in a corner from the left and Caldwell rose to nod home unchallenged.

Forced to go on the offensive, Owen Coyle brought on on-loan Arsenal teenager Miyaichi at half-time, but it was the visitors who continued to press forward.

Emmerson Boyce fired just wide when he should have done better while Franco Di Santo and Boyce both had penalty appeals rejected before McArthur drove a low shot straight at Bogdan.

Bolton finally crafted their first shot on target in the 61st minute when David Wheater tested Al Habsi.

And they snatched an equaliser six minutes later when Bogdan's long goal-kick deflected off David Ngog and fell to Davies, who crashed his left-foot shot into the top corner.

However, Bolton paid the price for more sloppy defending soon after as Wigan snatched a winner.

Samuel Ricketts' attempted back header gave Victor Moses a clear run on goal on the left and when his shot struck Bogdan it rebounded to McArthur to follow up into the net.