Owls beat Bolton in 5 goal thriller

Last updated : 12 January 2016 By C. Morris

Sheffield Wednesday beat Bolton 3-2 at Hillsborough on Tuesday evening to maintain their push for a top 6 spot in the Championship.

The Owls started well with Wallace testing the visiting keeper from distance and the home side should have been in front inside 10 minutes. Forestieri cut Bolton in half with a defence splitting pass that sent Hooper clean through on goal but the on loan striker dragged his effort well wide.

The miss was forgotten on 14 minutes however when Forestieri took aim from outside the box and fired a shot that flew past Amos into the roof of the Bolton goal.

Having looked in control early on Wednesday let Wanderers back into the game by conceding a sloppy goal, allowing the visitors too much space around the edge of the box and when Trotter played a low cross into the 6 yard box Madine somewhat fortunately guided the ball past Wildsmith for 1-1. The former Wednesday striker chose not to celebrate in front of the Kop.

From then on the Owls lost their way a little and Bolton had a couple of promising free-kicks but failed to threaten.

On the stroke of half-time the home side should have gone back in front. Bannan chipped into Forestieri in the penalty area and the diminutive front-man laid the ball off to Hooper only for the on loan Norwich man to once again miss the target when well positioned, this time firing over the bar.

Within 7 minutes of the restart the Hooper began to make amends for his first-half wastefulness by restoring Wednesday's lead. Nuhiu did well to work the ball out wide to Pudil and his fine low cross was tucked home by the former Celtic striker.

The Owls again squandered their lead when just after the hour mark Wheater flicked a header over Wildsmith and into the back of the net from a Feeney free-kick.

Despite their lowly league position Bolton were giving as good as they were getting with winger Wellington Silva giving Owls right-back Hunt a torrid time and Madine beating Sasso and Loovens to almost every challenge in the air.

The former Wednesday striker was unlucky to see a flick header go just wide before Silva's free-kick went close.

Wednesday responded with substitute Joao picking out Wallace in the box put he place his shot straight at Amos. Hooper's erratic evening in front of goal took another turn when he snatched at a chance that finished closer to the corner flag than the goal when he had more time to compose himself.

In the end though the on-loan man had the final say. With around 10 minutes to go he clipped a Wallace pass around Wanderers defender Wheater and smashed the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

The visitors nearly responded for a third time when Trotter hooked wide from inside the box and Wednesday almost added a 4th when Joao's blocked shot fell to Hooper and his low strike was saved by the legs of Amos and hooked away close to the goal line.

It was a rare poor defensive display at home for Wednesday but they can take heart from the fact that they ultimately picked up the 3 points. The Owls face Leeds United next at Hillsborough on Saturday in a lunchtime kick-off.