Yorkshire | Troubled Sheffield Wednesday defeat Bolton on penalties

Bolton Wanderers 3 - 3 Sheffield Wednesday (Sheffield Wednesday win 4-3 on penalties)

Sheffield Wednesday edged past Bolton on penalties to reach the second round of the Carabao Cup, setting up a home tie against Premier League Leeds United.

Author | Jay Dean

Stadium | Toughsheet Community Stadium

The away fans watch on

Goalkeeper Pierce Charles saved from Aaron Morley and Max Conway in the shootout before veteran Liam Palmer converted the winning kick, ensuring the Owls were perfect from the spot.

A closer analysis of how Wednesday progressed

With nine players aged 21 or under in their starting line-up, Wednesday went ahead early through Gui Siqueira’s thunderous strike. Bolton’s Sam Inwood was sent off for a last-man foul on Charlie McNeill in the 27th minute, but Jordi Osei-Tutu levelled with a back-post header nine minutes later.

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Parity lasted less than a minute as Ike Ugbo netted his first goal in almost a year, only for Thierry Gale to make it 2-2 with a low finish in the 77th minute. Reece Johnson appeared to have won it for Bolton on his debut, but Brighton loanee Amario Cozier-Duberry curled in a fine strike in stoppage time to force penalties.

A battle for possession 

Charles, a highly regarded 20-year-old Northern Ireland international, then took centre stage, helping Wednesday secure a morale-boosting win after a difficult summer marked by three consecutive months of delayed wage payments.

Earlier on Wednesday, Sheffield City Council lifted the prohibition notice on Hillsborough’s North Stand, allowing it to reopen for Saturday’s home match against Stoke.

As in Sunday’s narrow defeat at Leicester, Henrik Pedersen’s side delivered a display that reflected well on the players and their travelling support. 

Fan reaction

James Waling, a Wednesday fan, told us: "It hasn’t been easy being a Wednesday fan recently, watching the club I love fall apart. However, these first two games have given me real hope. We have a manager who wants to lead the club and players who are still proud to wear the shirt. Even if we bring in more signings, I hope we continue to develop our youth players and make them part of a sustainable future."

Paul, another fan who was in the away end, added: "Superb effort from the lads. After narrowly missing out on a result at the weekend, they showed real character to hold on and win the shootout. They should be proud of themselves. Credit also to Bolton, who refused to give in despite playing with 10 men for so long."