Eager to put the memory of their last match firmly behind them (losing 5-4 to Peterborough), Bolton attack quickly and when Martin Petrov delivers an early cross from the corner, Reda Johnson just manages to make a clearance. The Benin defender is called into action again just a minute later - again to turn away a Petrov cross. Involved in the early defensive duties, it's comes as a surprise when Reda Johnson is found upfield and almost opens the scoring when his header goes wide of the target from close range. Since returning from his loan spell away, David Prutton has kept his place in the heart of Wednesdays midfield but was at fault for a foul on David Ngog giving former Owls loanee Chris Eagles a chance to cross but the move quickly evaporates as the back line stands firm. In these early minutes, the Wanderers are having the better of play and when the visitors do manage to break, like on the 8th minute, Michail Antonios cross is easily dealt with. The Owls do have a good chance on the 10th minute when a foul by USA international Tim Ream on Antonio leads to a free kick. Lewis Buxton swings in a dangerous swinging free kick but Adam Bogdan claims the ball and the danger passes. Bolton come closest to scoring barely 3mins later when Chris Kirkland brilliantly denies Ngog who had embarked on a great solo run. When Zat Knight fouls Antonio (there's a pattern here!) the Owls have a good chance and Rhys McCabe - with his confidence sky high after his stunning volley last week, fires his effort... sky high. Just as the game is in danger of becoming scrappy with free kicks conceded by both teams, Buxton crosses the ball from out wide-right and Mamady Sidibe launches himself to fire a rocket diving header past the Bolton keeper to seal his loan extension with style. As to be expected, the travelling masses erupt with a chorus of 'Hark now hear, the Wednesday sing' amidst the joyous celebration an away goal brings. The indifferent form of Bolton has seen them slip in the table but their players still have the quality needed to get out of this tough league but it was Arsenal-loanee Benik Afobe threatening to restore parity between the sides, only for the linesman's flag to halt his run at goal. On the 35th minute the away side force a corner after neat interplay between Keira Lee and Buxton which McCabe swings in to the near post, Miguel Llera - who has been excellent in defence, heads goal-ward but the ball flies past the post and Bolton breath a sigh of relief. As the home side threaten again, Llera fouls Ngog but the back line stands solid again defending Republic of Ireland international Keith Andrews free kick. A foul by Reda Johnson just 20 seconds later has the home fans incensed - calling for the big defender to be carded, but after a warning by the referee Eagles whips a ball in from the right and Anthony Gardner clears. As the final 5mins of the half start ticking away, a neat flick on by Sidibe sets Lee free, he breaks into the box one-on-one with Bogdan only for the Hungary international to save well and deny a second Wednesday goal. In a period of Owls pressure and not one to shy away from a shot, Antonio tries an audacious 40 yard strike which sails well over the bar in the closing minutes. As the half closes, the 0-1 lead stays intact with thanks to Kirkland, saving a Petrov shot on goal from a free-kick conceded by Johnson (who sees yellow) moments after Ngog had Gardner blocking his goal-bound strike.
HT. The back line look decent again today, but shutting Bolton out for another 45mins will be a tall ask, the quality they have and the pressure they have been building could be dangerous. Sidibe is leading the line well and it looks like Antonio is playing just off of him as support. My half time snack is good food as the usual sofa has been left for a Boxing Day visit to my mothers. African Jollof Rice with spicy fried fish and a festive beer. Not my usual snack!
The second half gets underway with Wednesday looking to add to their first half goal, a free-kick by Buxton and a corner by McCabe both pressuring Bolton and then a goalmouth scramble from McCabes corner causes panic before squirming out for a goal kick. The Trotters force their own corner in the next attack but again Gardner sees away Petrovs cross. With the home fans backing, Bolton press again and Ngog flashes his wicked shot across goal and wide - to the relief of the partying Owls in the stands. The pressure doesn't end there though and Afobe forces Kikland into a save before Llera clears Petrovs out-swinging corner and Eagles' follow up shot from 35 yards is collected by the Wednesday keeper. After both teams lose possession from free kicks, the Owls have a chance from a McCabe corner on the 58th minute. The Scotsman delivers well and Reda Johnsons header goes inches wide of Bogdans post. The next corner is close to giving the yellow-clad Owls a 0-2 lead when McCabes ball in is headed by Llera - again inches off target. For all their quality, Bolton can't seem to break the Wednesday rear-guard and a spate of frustrated free-kicks are evidence of it. After Reda Johnson has headed a corner just wide again, the Trotters see their own attack end with a superb Kirkland save denying Afobe heading home after Bolton play their best move of the game. After the second and third Bolton subs, Reda Johnson fouls Afobe and Marcos Alonso fires a long-range free kick that skids up off the ground into the grateful arms of the Owls keeper. After one foul too many, Reda makes way for Joe Mattock and goal scorer Sidibe makes way for Chris O'Grady. With the last 10mins ticking away it's the travelling fans in full voice, chants of "We love you Wednesday, we do" echo around the Reebok. Bolton for their credit are having the majority of the possession but as has been the case, the defence are too solid to break down. In one such Bolton attack, Lee clears the ball upfield and Jeremy Hélan advances on goal - shooting from distance and not troubling the goalkeeper. When Gardner clears yet another Bolton corner, Hélan sprints upfield to take all the pressure with him, evading challenges and running the clock down. Deep into injury time, Jermaine Johnson replaces Antonio in a bid to kill any Trotters momentum, however that nearly backfires when Ngog heads a Knight cross well wide from deep inside the area. The referee blows the whistle and this one is over! The festive cheer of "Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, oh what fun it is to see, Wednesday win away!" flows down from the away stand.
FT. Three wins out of three for Wednesday, not only that but 3 clean sheets too - great form to back a push up the table. Bolton will hope this slump in form ends quickly before they're dragged further down the table. A very workmanlike display by SWFC, solid from the back and an experimental formation designed to outnumber Bolton worked very well.
Attendance: 22,292
Owls Man of the Match: Buxton/Gardner (Buxton- solid, adventurous going forward and linked up well / Gardner- solid, solid, solid!!)
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