Bolton made their way into the third round of the League Cup for the first time in three years with a 3-2 win over Sheffield Wednesday.
Most of the side was changed from Saturday`s loss to Derby, but there were quite a few players who staked a claim for a first team spot going forward. Whether Phil Parkinson actually makes the call and brings in the good performers is an entirely different matter, but Derik added some real bite to a midfield that was anonymous at the weekend, while Antonee Robinson and Mark Little were excellent in their wing-back roles.
Wednesday did have their chances in the first half though, with Sam Winnall looking to get amongst the chances, but could never to seem to really impose himself. Bolton applied a spell of pressure, before late in the first half Dorian Dervite gave us the lead. Just minutes later though, Wednesday could have been level, but Dervite was the hero at the other end too, hacking a ball off the line.
Wanderers came out flying for the second half, with the Owls needing to push forward, we could break fairly often, and Adam Armstrong made a superb solo run. He could have finished it himself but instead played a ball to Will Buckley who was upended by Joe Wildsmith.
Armstrong converted the obvious penalty and we were 2-0 up, which then became 3-0 after Jem Karacan, captain for the night, scored with a looping header.
Being Bolton though, there was a twist. Two late goals from Jordan Rhodes, whose move to Hillsborough hadn`t worked out at all prior to tonight, ensured a tense finish. Probably too tense for both managers, who were sent to the stands, before Carvalhal lost it, and either he or a member of his staff took their frustration out on a steward. Whether they`ll fight the winner of Mayweather v McGregor has yet to be confirmed.
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