Match ends, Bolton Wanderers 1, Sheffield Wednesday 1.
BoltonBolton Wanderers1Sheff WedSheffield Wednesday1
Championship strugglers Bolton and Sheffield Wednesday scored a goal apiece as the sides played out a compelling draw at the Reebok Stadium.
Jermaine Beckford put the hosts ahead in the early stages, but Alex Baptiste headed into his own net to equalise.
Wednesday's Jermaine Johnson had a second-half header ruled out, before team-mate Jose Semedo was sent off late on for a foul on Jay Spearing.
Owls keeper Chris Kirkland produced two fine late saves to preserve a point.
Wednesday came into the match in the final relegation spot, two points and two places behind opponents Bolton who were in 20th, but the visitors started the brighter.
Giles Coke shot wide when picked out by Michail Antonio, and Wanderers goalkeeper Adam Bogdan produced a smart stop when Matty Fryatt was played through on goal.
Buoyed by the reprieve, Bolton went ahead against the run of play when Beckford stroked home his second goal in as many games after being found by a sublime flick by Neil Danns.
The equaliser came in fortuitous circumstances, as Baptiste turned a teasing Jeremy Helan cross into his own net.
Dave Jones's players controlled the match into the second half and looked to have gone in front after Johnson reacted quickest after a Stephen McPhail free-kick was deflected to him.
However, assistant referee Sian Massey ruled that players in offside positions were impeding Bogdan.
The Hungarian's opposite number Kirkland then had to be at his best after Semedo was sent off for a two-footed tackle on Spearing six minutes before the end.
Kirkland kept his side in the game as two superb saves from Tim Ream and Baptiste's headers followed to ensure that Bolton's late push was not rewarded with a win.
Bolton manager Dougie Freedman:
"We started very well and were playing some fantastic stuff. Jermaine scored a beautiful goal, but once again at home there was a huge piece of misfortune for us with the own goal.
"We showed great courage to try to force a winner and had four or five really good chances to do that.
"As soon as anybody leaves the ground then you run the risk of being sent off. Semedo's jumped off the floor and committed a dangerous tackle on Jay Spearing. For the goal, the guy's a yard offside and the assistant referee's done very well to spot it."
Sheffield Wednesday manager Dave Jones:
"It wasn't a sending-off, they had a youngster who should have been sent off and it should have been a goal. Hopefully, Chris [Foy, referee] will review it and see that the lineslady was very quick in lifting her flag and I can't see where the offside is.
"As for the red card, you can normally tell by the reaction of players and that's what Semmy is all about. That's not his game, that's why he was so upset. His foot has slid across the floor and he's taken the ball. I just feel that some of the big decisions weren't right and we'll certainly be appealing.
"I can't fault my players' efforts because they were fantastic throughout. Chris Kirkland has pulled off two terrific saves at the end but, up until the sending-off, there was only one winner for me."
Line-ups
Bolton
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Bogdan
- 17McNaughton
- 15BaptisteBooked at 78mins
- 44Kamara
- 4Mills
- 5Ream
- 26FeeneySubstituted forLeeat 58'minutes
- 6Spearing
- 10Beckford
- 18DannsSubstituted forNgogat 78'minutes
- 7EaglesSubstituted forHallat 69'minutesBooked at 81mins
Substitutes
- 9Ngog
- 11Hall
- 12Knight
- 14Moritz
- 21Pratley
- 24Lonergan
- 27Lee
Sheff Wed
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Kirkland
- 2Buxton
- 3Johnson
- 6SemedoBooked at 85mins
- 5Zayatte
- 8Johnson
- 7Antonio
- 14CokeSubstituted forPalmerat 90+4'minutes
- 28FryattSubstituted forJohnsonat 65'minutes
- 27McPhailBooked at 75mins
- 17Helan
Substitutes
- 10Maghoma
- 11Johnson
- 19Mattock
- 22Palmer
- 26E Martínez
- 32Llera
- 34Nuhui
- Referee:
- Chris Foy
- Attendance:
- 17,177
Match Stats
Home TeamBoltonAway TeamSheff Wed
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away4
- Corners
- Home5
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bolton Wanderers 1, Sheffield Wednesday 1.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Liam Palmer replaces Giles Coke.
Post update
Attempt saved. Robert Hall (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lee Chung-Yong.
Post update
Attempt saved. Matthew Mills (Bolton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lee Chung-Yong with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by Michail Antonio.
Post update
Corner, Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by Kamil Zayatte.
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Attempt saved. Matthew Mills (Bolton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Lee Chung-Yong with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by Jeremy Helan.
Post update
Reda Johnson (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by David Ngog (Bolton Wanderers).
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Attempt missed. Jermaine Johnson (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
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Attempt saved. Matthew Mills (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by David Ngog.
Post update
Corner, Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by Kamil Zayatte.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Jay Spearing (Bolton Wanderers) because of an injury.
Dismissal
Josè Semedo (Sheffield Wednesday) is shown the red card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Josè Semedo (Sheffield Wednesday).
Post update
Jay Spearing (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Michail Antonio (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
