JON Dadi Bodvarsson rescued a point for Wanderers in a derby flecked with controversy at the DW Stadium.

The Icelander came off the bench to head home Will Aimson’s cross in the 83rd minute and snatch a result which stopped the Latics replacing Rotherham United at the top of the League One table.

James McClean’s early cross-shot gave Wigan a deserved first-half lead but the winger looked to have cashed in a large slice of luck on the stroke of half time when after being booked for a foul on Dapo Afolayan, he clattered into the same player on the edge of the penalty box.

Referee Samuel Barrott kept his cards in his pocket after a discussion with his linesman, prompting a furious response from Ian Evatt as the teams walked back off the pitch.

Wanderers’ long wait for a win at the DW might have continued but they will at least take solace from a much-improved second-half display, and the fact honours ended even.

They had failed to match Wigan’s tempo early on and paid the price as McClean put the home side into the lead just seven minutes in.

Max Power took a short corner, and McClean chipped in a deep cross that seemed to drift past Josh Magennis, James Trafford and Ricardo Santos, bouncing into the net.

Wigan continued to make the pace and could have had a second moments later when MJ Williams was levered off the ball on the edge of his own penalty box, McClean driving on to swerve a shot just wide.

Evatt’s side failed to get their possession game going at all, looking rushed and flustered under the derby pressure, and Callum Lang had the next chance after a turnover in midfield, drilling a low shot just off target.

Will Keane rolled an inviting cross along the six yard box after galloping into more space on the edge of the Bolton box, which was cleared behind by Aaron Morley before Lang could tap it into the net.

Wanderers failed to muster an effort worthy of the description in the first half but they remained in the game at 1-0 and could easily have gone in with a man advantage, after McClean somehow avoided a second yellow card for a foul on Afolayan.

The Irishman had already been booked for chopping down the same man after 15 minutes but a clumsy bodycheck on the edge of the penalty box left referee Sam Barrott with a big decision to make. And after consulting with his linesman, he felt only a free kick was warranted.

As Bolton’s players jogged to the corner at the interval, the Bolton boss sprinted directly towards the officials to berate his decision.

Wanderers started to regain some poise in the second half, putting their first shot on target when George Johnston picked up on a loose ball, testing Ben Amos with a dipping effort.

Little meaningful football was offered by either side and Evatt tried to change things by bringing on Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, Amadou Bakayoko and Kyle Dempsey in quick succession.

Tempers flared on the touchline once again as Ricardo Santos picked up a yellow card for a push on Max Power – but neither team seemed able to find the moment of quality needed to either get back into the game or finish it altogether.

The clock ticked down to 80 minutes – so often the time that Bolton come alive – when a Gethin Jones header at the back post nearly dropped for Bodvarsson.

And less than a minute later, it was Jones again skipping down the right, combining with Will Aimson to deliver an inch-perfect cross for the Icelander to arrow a perfect header into the bottom corner.

It was a moment of rare class in a game that had lacked any – and more than 4,000 Bolton supporters erupted behind the goal.

As five minutes of stoppage time began, Wanderers nearly snatched all three points. Kieran Sadlier popped up unmarked at the far post, checked back in on his right foot, but had his shot blocked superbly by Jason Kerr.