Steve Bruce has described Wigan's derby against Bolton on Sunday as a "cup final" as both teams battle for crucial Premier League points.Latics head into the weekend three points better off than their rivals after picking up a fantastic point against Arsenal at the JJB Stadium last week.

But that will count for nothing if Bolton claim the win, leapfrogging Bruce's men and conceivably sending Wigan back into the bottom three.

Bruce said: "It's going to be a cup final. It is a huge fixture because matches with other clubs around us in the table are deciders.

"We are now up to 13th in the Premiership and I wish the season was over now, but to go from second bottom to 13th in just a matter of months means we've done extremely well.

"We've taken 20 points from 15 games since I took charge and I've always been a firm believer in the theory that if a club takes a point a game then they do stay up. We are ahead of schedule and the signs are there that we are a decent team.

"It's fair to say the defence needs a big pat on the back because they've given us a platform on which to build on. They have looked very solid and well organised."

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