The gaffer praised the work rate of the Latics squad after they beat Bolton 1-0.

Emile Heskey's first half strike took Latics into mid-table territory after they defeated our local neighbours at the JJB Stadium. However, Jason Koumas was sent off for a challenge on Gary Cahill after just 4 minutes and so Latics were down to ten men for virtually all match.

In the post match conference, Bruce said, "I do not think there is a team who have worked as hard for a win as own lads have done today. They have run a million miles today to get a result.

"It was a massive, massive game for us and for someone to get sent off so early on and then to go on and to win the match is usually unheard of unless you are one of the big teams.

"It was a great effort and you would not have thought we were down to ten men during the first half."

Latics have now reached 31 points in the Barclays Premier League although the gaffer refused to set a final target.

The Wigan boss continued, "We are edging closer to safety but we have a tough run in so we cannot take anything fore granted."

Bruce also thought that Koumas' red card had a lot to do with the recent media coverage of long term injury suffered by Arsenal striker Eduardo who sustained a broken leg and hinted there was a slight chance that referee Steve Tanner may change his mind about it.

"I do think its part of the climate that we are in and I think its partially because of what happened three weeks ago. But it is part and parcel that you can get injured in this game because of physical contact.

"Koumas is not a malicious person and I think it deserved a yellow card at most. We have asked the referee and he has said he will look at it."

There was another controversial incident in the second half when Michael Brown looked as though he may have handled a Kevin Davies header on the goal line, but the Latics boss admitted he hadn't seen the incident properly.

Bruce said, "I haven't seen it but we all need a bit of luck sometimes, but that is the thing about Bolton because the ball is constantly coming into the box."

The Latics boss also revealed that Antonie Sibierski had pulled a calf muscle during the warm up but could not give an indication on how long it would sideline the Frenchman for.

Wigan World subscribers can watch the whole of the post match interview with Steve Bruce on Wigan World.