Ian Evatt: Bolton Wanderers boss says melee triggered by Wigan Athletic celebration
- Published
Players and coaching staff from Wigan and Bolton clashed after the full-time whistle
Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt says a Wigan Athletic player "celebrating in front of our fans" was the trigger for the melee at the end of their League One derby defeat on Tuesday.
Both groups came together, leading to both Evatt and his opposite number Shaun Maloney getting involved as the flare-up occurred at the finish.
Home side Wigan took the spoils thanks to Stephen Humphrys' second-half goal.
"It's not acceptable," Evatt told BBC Radio Manchester.
"We just won't accept one of their players celebrating in front of our supporters. Celebrate with your own fans, no issue with that.
"Don't celebrate with ours, and you certainly shouldn't be celebrating when you're mid-table. That's what I think.
"It's a good result for them, fair enough, we'll take our medicine but we're still fighting to get promoted out of this division."
The Trotters missed the chance to move into the top two, after Derby's loss to Charlton, and would only have needed a point to do so.
Wigan boss Maloney was in placatory mood in victory, after his side recorded their 15th win of a season in which an eight-point deduction has left them behind the promotion race.
"I think their manager thought one of our players was over-celebrating in the far corner," Maloney said.
"But there's no hard feelings on either side, these are just emotional moments."