Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
- Published
Sammy Ameobi joined Bolton on a permanent deal in the summer
Bolton Wanderers claimed their first league win of the season by narrowly beating Sheffield Wednesday.
Sammy Ameobi cut inside to curl in their first goal in nine matches to give the hosts an early lead.
Sam Hutchinson deflected a corner into his own net to put Wanderers 2-0 up, but Kieran Lee bundled in after Jordan Rhodes had a goalbound effort blocked by a Filipe Morais handball.
Home keeper Ben Alnwick denied Lucas Joao as Bolton held on.
The hosts had not scored in nearly 13 hours, last netting in a 3-2 EFL Cup win over the Owls on 22 August, when Ameobi curled in a super effort.
Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal made a double change at the break, bringing on Rhodes and Hutchinson for David Jones and Ross Wallace, and Rhodes should have levelled when he missed from close range.
Hutchinson inadvertently scored an own goal from Morais' corner before former Owls striker Gary Madine missed a chance to make it 3-0 when he hit the post from four yards.
Lee's goal made it a nervy finish but Wanderers managed to hold on to move within six points of Championship safety.
Bolton manager Phil Parkinson:
"When the fourth official put the board up at the end I thought, 'Where has he got six minutes from? Give us a chance'. I was just staring at the referee thinking, 'Come on, blow that whistle'.
"It was a great game with a lot of chances. We looked like a team who could score. The fans deserve that win. Football is about sticking together and we have done that."
Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal:
"The fans are unhappy and they have reasons to be unhappy. I agree with them because I am unhappy.
"But we are not far from the first positions and all teams are losing points. We still believe we can achieve promotion this season."