Sheffield Wednesday vs Bolton Wanderers. Sky Bet Championship.
HillsboroughAttendance20,757.
Tuesday 12 January 2016 22:27, UK
Sheffield Wednesday maintained their Sky Bet Championship promotion push with a 3-2 win at home to struggling Bolton on Tuesday, after twice being pegged back.
Gary Hooper scored twice for the hosts at Hillsborough after a wonder strike from Fernando Forestieri gave them the lead, while Gary Madine and David Wheater were on target for Bolton.
Wednesday's Ross Wallace tried an early shot from distance which was comfortably saved by Ben Amos, before Hooper also wasted a great chance, dragging his shot wide after being put through on goal by Forestieri.
Moments later, the Italian striker put the hosts in front with a superb 30-yard effort after receiving the ball from Hooper.
As Bolton looked to make a swift response, Madine had a shot blocked and Darren Pratley's follow-up also struck a defender.
Madine equalised five minutes later, when Liam Trotter's close-range effort deflected off the former Wednesday striker and the ball trickled over the line.
The chances kept coming for both sides as Atdhe Nuhiu's header was easily gathered by Amos while at the other end, Pratley fired well over following Trotter's lay-off.
Bolton could have gone ahead in the first half as Joe Wildsmith dropped the ball following Madine's header, with Rob Holding in close attendance, before gathering at the second attempt and Liam Feeney then tried a curling free-kick which was not far off target.
The visitors were awarded another free-kick in a promising position at the end of the half and Feeney's effort struck the defensive wall.
Hooper wasted another good opportunity in first-half stoppage time, lifting the ball over the crossbar from inside the area following good work from Forestieri.
The second half started much like the first finished, as Forestieri tried another shot from distance but this time his low drive went harmlessly wide.
Hooper restored Wednesday's lead after 52 minutes when he stabbed home Daniel Pudil's low cross, and although Amos got a hand to the ball, he was unable to keep it out.
Madine spurned a glorious chance to level soon after when he put his close-range header straight at Wildsmith but the visitors drew level again not long after, when Wheater met Feeney's free-kick with a flicked header and the ball looped over the Owls 'keeper and into the net.
Hooper had another good chance, shooting well wide after finding himself in space inside the area with Bolton again going close to taking the lead when Madine's header flashed just wide and Wellington Silva put a free-kick narrowly off target.
After Amos saved from Wallace, the hosts went 3-2 up when Hooper brought the ball down following Wallace's chip into the area before firing into the net.
Bolton threatened to make a quick response when good work from Silva set up Pratley, who shot wide from inside the area.
A defensive slip let in Madine late on but his low shot failed to really test Wildsmith, who made an easy save and Hooper was denied a hat-trick when Amos kept out his stoppage-time effort.
