It looked like being third time lucky though when Stelios shot Wanderers into a 63rd-minute lead.
The Greek midfielder has described the Reebok side as a "big club", and with eight goals and performances of fantastic energy no-one is helping Bolton to bridge the class gap more him.
But if Bolton are punching above there weight then Wigan are the Premiership paperweights regularly thumping the game's elite.
Cardiff and Manchester United certainly didn't appear to be on the minds of Paul Jewell's team. They gained a deserved draw to go with an earlier 2-0 victory at the JJB Stadium thanks to Andreas Johannson's first ever Premiership goal.
Wigan may easily have claimed an unlikely win as Wanderers finished in disarray.
Jimmy Bullard flashed a left-foot shot just wide in the dying minutes when he may have been better advised to play in Paul Scharner, while Reto Ziegler, whose free-kick lead to Johannson's equaliser, and David Thompson both had shots blocked in stoppage-time.
The draw leaves Wigan sixth, a point clear of Bolton, though Allardyce's men do have two games in hand.
Given the numerous absentees in both camps it was no surprise the game was disjointed.
And Bolton's cause certainly wasn't helped when they lost the influential Khalilou Fadiga in the 19th minute with suspected knee ligament damage.
The Senegalese star had to be stretchered off after falling awkwardly on his left leg, after playing a long ball to Wanderers' left-hand side.
He was replaced by Nicky Hunt, with Joey O'Brien, watched by Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton, pressed into central midfield.
Fadiga's loss clearly disrupted Bolton and the best chance of the first half went Wigan's way after 36 minutes, when Hidetoshi Nakata lost possession and Neil Mellor fired narrowly wide from 18 yards.
With Kevin Davies picking up an ankle injury and Matt Jansen struggling for fitness Allardyce used all of his substitutes by the 52nd minute.
The home team continued to press despite the readjustments and Jared Borgetti was denied by a brilliant Mike Pollitt save in the 59th minute.
Three minutes later Bolton were ahead. Bruno N'Gotty's free-kick was touched on closer to his own goal by Scharner and Stelios stepped in from close range to squeeze the ball under Pollitt.
That should have been enough for Wanderers, but Wigan's fighting spirit remains unquenchable.
Ziegler's free-kick, the award of which was disputed by Bolton, wasn't held by Jussi Jaaskelainen and Johannson sent in the rebound from six yards.
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