Sheffield Wednesday got back to winning ways with a nervy 1-0 win over Bolton at Hillsborough.
Wednesday had struggled off late, while the visitors were riding a three match winning streak and were sat on the edge of the top six.
It was a surprisingly frantic start as Saido Berahino came close within seconds before some questionable defending gave Bolton an opening at the other end just a minute later. Bolton were the better side throughout the majority of the opening 45 minutes , enjoying the lions’ share of possession but failing to create any clear cut chances.
The hosts struggled to retain possession and when they did have it, they seemed unsure what to do with it, continually giving the ball away and playing backwards towards the goalkeeper. The 23,000 strong crowd began to grow frustrated, leading to an uneasy and tense atmosphere inside Hillsborough as the clock ticked towards the interval.
But as the half neared its close, Darren Moore’s side began to grow into the game and Lee Gregory gave Bolton their first scare in the 37th minute, his header pushed over the crossbar by Matt Gilks in the Wanderers goal. Minutes later, Berahino stole possession on the edge of the box but fired narrowly wide.
When the half time whistle sounded, it was the home side in the ascendancy and Bolton manager Ian Evatt will have been relieved to get his players into the dressing room after seeing his side lose control of the game.
The second half saw Bolton threaten again with Joe Wildsmith pushing away Eoin Doyle’s close range effort on 48 minutes. The game had an end to end feel and the feeling was that one moment of quality would be enough to settle the game.
As the clock ticked past the hour mark, the home supporters again voiced their displeasure, three points being vital for Wednesday who prior to this fixture had 2.86 less points than the average figure for promoted teams at this stage of the season.
The breakthrough eventually came in the 66th minute as Gregory drilled the ball past Gilks to score what would prove to be the winning goal. Bolton didn’t give up though and pressed for an equaliser, giving the Owls a few nervy moments.
Declan John fizzed a low cross across the six yard boss but there wasn’t anyone there to steer it home – much to the frustration of the 3,000 visiting fans who had travelled from Lancashire.
Oladime Shodipo failed to have the impact he might have imagined when coming on as a 73rd minute substitute – he was booked immediately for simulation. Bolton had a decent spell of possession in the closing minutes as Wednesday camped behind the ball and looked to prevent a dramatic late equaliser.
A succession of easily dealt with corners in stoppage time was the closest they came to a goal and the hosts wrapped up a big three points.
Wednesday’s win sees the hosts move level on points with their visitors and they climbed into eight place, two points off MK Dons who currently occupy the last playoff spot.
Up next for The Owls is Tuesday night’s trip to Cambridge United before they welcome Lincoln City to Hillsborough on Saturday 23rd October.
Sheffield Wednesday: Wildsmith; Palmer, Iorfa, Gibson (Adeniran 45′); Hunt, Hutchinson (Dunkley 45′), Bannan, Brown (Shodipo 74′); Paterson; Berahino, Gregory. Subs not used: Render, Wing, Corbeanu, Kamberi.
Bolton Wanderers: Dixon; John, Johnston, Santos, Jones; Williams, Lee; Afoyalan, Sarcevic (Sheehan 74′), Kachunga (Isgrove 74′); Doyle (Bakayoko 74′). Subs not used: Gordon, Delfouneso, Thomason, Baptiste.
Referee: David Rock.
Goals: Sheffield Wednesday: Gregory 66′.
Bookings: Sheffield Wednesday: Shodipo 77′.
Bolton Wanderers: Jones 58′ , Afoyalan 65′.
HT: 0-0
FT: 1-0.
Attendance: 23,692.
Man of the Match: Jayden Brown.
